Hope for the Home

All Your Cares

2009-10-23T08:56:00.001-05:00

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

The word “change” causes many different reactions in people. Some embrace change wholeheartedly and are willing to change all the time. Others are afraid of change because they do not know what to expect. I am in the middle of a season of change. My family is making plans to build a new house and my temporary job will come to an end within the next few months.

I could be anxious about these changes because I don’t know how things will turn out. Yes, we have a plan for our house, but after many hours of work and decisions, it may not look exactly how I envisioned. The house may change. Yes, I’ve known that my job is temporary, so I’m not concerned that it will come to an end. The change is that I do not know what God has in store for me next in terms of job and/or ministry.

I could worry and fret that things will not turn out “just right.” Or, I could allow God to be in charge and do my best to follow His leading. I know that He cares for me and only wants what is best for me, so I will put my trust in Him and let Him do what He does best.

Are you struggling through a period of change? Do you rely only on what you see? Can you trust God to lead you through this season?

Father, I cast all my anxiety on you concerning changes in my life. Show me that I can place my faith in you daily and that you will take care of me. Work in my life so that I may testify of your glory to others.

In All Things

2009-10-09T08:34:00.003-05:00

“...pray continually...” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV

Prayer is an important aspect of a Christian’s life. But, all too often we tend to take this discipline for granted. When everything is rolling along smoothly in life, prayer tends to take a back burner to other things. At least that’s true in my life. However, when life takes an unexpected turn and bad things happen, we drop to our knees begging God to hear our prayer and get us out of our bad situation.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been reminded that God wants us to pray all the time. This is our way of communicating with Him. If we are not in constant communication with Him, we will not know what He wants us to do in our lives. When we talk with God on a regular basis, we are able to discern His will for our lives. We are also able to handle difficult times because we know that God is going to take care of us.

God has placed in my heart several verses from His Word that have led me to remember what happens in my life when I pray.

P-Puts God’s perspective over my own. Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.” Prayer helps me to focus on God’s ways and gets my ways out of the picture.

R-Releases me from my burdens. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 God wants to shoulder all our burdens. Only He can give us the peace that passes all understanding. Prayer allows me to shift all my burdens to Him.

A-Acknowledges that God’s way is the only way. “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6 Only God knows the path I should take. Through prayer He makes this clear to me.

Y-Yields my actions to God’s authority. 2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us that “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Confessing my sins and tendency to do my own thing instead of following God draws me into a closer relationship with Him.

Is your prayer life stale and routine? Do you only pray when a crisis arises? Talk to God today and make prayer a priority in your life.

Distractions

2009-10-02T09:36:00.001-05:00

“But all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life…” Mark 4:19 NLT

Ok, so I’ve been distracted the last couple of weeks. That is obvious as I have not written a devotional for the past two weeks. One week I was on vacation and the other…well, I just forgot! Life is full of distractions and things that will get us sidetracked from what we have on our agendas.

One area that has been hurt by my distraction is quality time with God in His Word. I have let the cares of this world get me distracted from a consistent time of studying the Bible. I can certainly tell the difference in my life when the Bible is not the main book I’m reading. Selfishness, apathy and laziness creep into my life. I’m not able to handle stressful situations with grace. My words are short and biting. I become a person that I don’t want to be around. So, I’ve tried to remedy this situation by committing to reading from the Word every morning before I leave the house. Since there are 31 days in October, I am going to read one chapter of Proverbs each day. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs to correspond with 31 days in October. Not only am I going to read a chapter, I am going to study and meditate on it. Proverbs is full of wisdom to help us live our lives the way God wants us to. I don’t want to miss out on any of God’s instructions.

Another area of my life that has been hurt by my distraction is the overwhelming responsibilities I’ve taken on at home, school, church and in the community. Too many things to do always makes me cranky. I tend to put off some of my responsibilities and get distracted because I am overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin. My solution for this is to start delegating or stepping down from some of the responsibilities I’ve taken on. Life just seems to work better for me if I can keep things simple so that I am not distracted.

What is your distraction? What can you do about it?

Purpose

2009-09-11T09:09:00.001-05:00

I’ve been reading a lot on the topic of finding your purpose in life. I firmly believe that God created us all with specific purposes in mind. Sometimes I get caught up in the “hunt” for that ONE thing God has put me on earth to accomplish. Recently, I’ve been reminded that the process to getting to do something big for God is as important as the task itself.

For example, I know without a doubt that God has called me to be a stay-at-home mom (SAHM). And, I’ve been doing that for almost 10 years now. Right now, I am working part time outside of the home, but it is only for a short season. While I’m going about my duties as a SAHM, I tend to look at other women’s lives thinking that they are fulfilling their purpose in life while I’m doing laundry and cooking dinner. God has shown me this week that these things that I’m doing that seem so insignificant are exactly what He wants me to do RIGHT NOW.

No matter how many times I have tried to work outside of the home since having kids, I’ve never felt fulfilled or satisfied with those jobs. And most of those jobs are ministry related. God has shown me time and time again that my place is at home taking care of my family and providing a comfortable and safe place to come to at the end of the day. I know He is preparing me for other assignments, but for right now He has called me to be right where I am serving Him wholeheartedly with joy.

You may feel you are stuck in a place where there is no hope for something better. Take a look around where God has placed you. Can you see that He has called you to serve in that place? Are you so busy looking ahead that you miss the special moments of today?

On the Right Path

2009-09-04T09:26:00.001-05:00

“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” Proverbs 27:12 NIV

God has been at work in a real way in my life over the last few months. He has provided me with opportunities to grow and learn as I develop leadership skills within a ministry position. Along the way I’ve been given many opportunities to do new things and have even had the chance to change my lifestyle through a full time job. However, God has been very specific about what He wants from my life. Some of the opportunities that have come my way have been really good things, but they did not fit in with the destination I firmly believe God is leading me toward.

We’re all given opportunities to daily walk with God on the path He chooses for us. But for us to walk with Him on that path, we have to choose that path. I’ve been very convicted lately by a book I’m reading by Andy Stanley. It is called The Principle of the Path, and I highly recommend reading it if you are trying to make sense out of your life. He states that everything we want to accomplish or be is the result of following a certain path. If you say you want to lose weight yet keep on eating unhealthy food and avoid exercise, then you are not headed down the right path to produce the results of weight loss. To reach the desired end result, we must learn and follow the path that is necessary to achieve that result.

I’ve thought about many decisions I’ve made in the last few weeks and how they do not fit in with the end result I am trying to achieve. See if any of these sound familiar.

I want to lose weight yet I keep eating unhealthy foods and do not exercise

I say I want to be closer to God but I do not study His Word as often as I should

I want deeper friendships but I don’t make the time to develop them

I want a clean and organized home but I spend my free time on the Internet

What decisions have you made that have sidetracked you from your goals?

Opportunity

2009-08-21T09:07:00.001-05:00

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16.

“Seize the day!” is my motto for today. My kids are in school, I do not have to work and there is much to be done around my house. So, I am going to make the most of this opportunity to do my best to get my house back in order.

We are warned in Ephesians to be aware of how we live. We can choose to be wise in the decisions we make each day and seize each opportunity that comes our way. My heart has been convicted lately of opportunities God has given me that I have not acted on. So, in the coming days, I’m going to be diligent in trying to seize the following opportunities:

1. Time with family—my husband and I will celebrate our 12th anniversary this weekend. I aim to spend more quality time with him, getting to know how he’s changed over the last 12 years and what matters most to him. I also desire to spend time alone with each of my kids. They are changing daily, and I want to be able to know everything about them.
2. Time alone—Now that I’m working four days a week, I really need to focus on carving out time for me. I need the time to refresh and renew my energies so that I can be a better wife and mother. I will strive to get at least a few minutes alone each day.
3. Time with God—I generally have a quiet time with God in the morning before my day gets away from me. But sometimes that time is rushed because there is much to be done before the kids get off to school. So, I plan to set aside more time during the day to spend time studying God’s Word and praying. I am at a stage in life where circumstances change day by day. I need God’s wisdom and guidance to help me make wise decisions.

So, how about you? What opportunities are waiting for you? What will you do to make the most of every opportunity?

Public vs. Private

2009-08-07T08:41:00.000-05:00

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” Matthew 6:5 NIV

My education background is in accounting. I hold a CPA (inactive) license. Notice that I put inactive in parenthesis. If I hold myself out to be a CPA and do not have an active license that shows I have earned the required continuing education to be active, then I am breaking the rules. Once you pass the CPA exam and obtain a license, then you are required to follow a certain set of rules. These rules require you to hold an active license before you can say you are a CPA in public.

God has some standards for us to follow in public as well. While these same standards also apply to what we do in private, He wants to make sure that what we say and do in public honors Him. Our private and public lives will mirror each other if we are trying to follow God’s standards.

I love facebook. In fact, you could say I’m addicted to it. I love to see what all my “friends” are doing. However, I’ve noticed that sometimes we who profess to be Christians use facebook in a way that is not honoring to God. Spilling all the personal details of our lives to the world is not always a good thing. Then there are times that we use our status updates to either brag about what we are doing or to air our grievances with another person. Many of these things need to be kept private, not made public.

I am constantly editing what I want to share on facebook. I want my posts to be uplifting and encouraging. Not boastful and discouraging. I encourage you to consider your posts before you hit the share button. Is what you’re about to say helpful or hurtful?

Father, show me how to be more encouraging through my public life. Help me to keep private things private and learn how to trust you for all I need.

A Gift of God

2009-07-31T16:39:00.001-05:00

“I know there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 TNIV

In less than three weeks my children will start back to school. This time of year is always hectic for my family because we are getting ready to go back to school, planning a birthday party for my daughter (her birthday is on the first day of school this year) and somehow trying to fit in an anniversary celebration for my husband and me. Now, this year I have the added “bonus” of working outside the home where my job is also very busy during August.

Instead of throwing my hands up and telling God that I can’t possibly get everything done, I am pulling out some of my old tricks to keep me on track. I know I’ve written on time management before, but it never hurts to be reminded of some useful tips.

First, I’m going to write down on two separate lists all the things that need to be done at home and at work. I list everything from normal daily activities such as laundry to the occasional bigger tasks like removing outgrown clothes from my children’s closets.

Second, I will pray over these lists and ask God to show me if there are any tasks that can be deleted if they are not necessary or delegated to someone else who may be able to handle the task better. I pray that God will show me what’s most important.

Next, I follow God’s command and delete and delegate.

Finally, I schedule each task that is left on days that I know I will have enough time to complete them.

Our verse for today reminds us that finding satisfaction in our work is a gift of God. I pray that you will allow God to help you if you are burdened by too much to do. Accept His gift and be satisfied.

Shining Lights

2009-07-24T08:45:00.001-05:00

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NKJV

Last week on vacation we visited the Gateway Arch in the Jefferson Memorial National Expansion Park in St. Louis. While we were waiting to get in line to go up to the top of the Arch, we decided to explore the gift shop and museum that were at the base of the Arch. I noticed a sign at the information desk that said kids could sign up to be a Junior Ranger. Since we had some time to spare, I went to the desk to inquire what the program was about. The ranger gave me an activity book and pencil for both of my kids. If they completed the activities in the book and brought it back, they would become Junior Rangers.

My daughter took this assignment to heart and immediately set out to finish the activities. When she turned in her completed book, the park ranger gave her a certificate and Junior Ranger badge. Before he presented her these items he admonished her to be a good example to other kids. Since she was wearing a Junior Ranger badge other kids would be looking at her and following her example. He encouraged her to not touch the exhibits or play on the display ropes. My daughter solemnly agreed to this charge. (She’s only 6.) She was mindful the rest of the day that other people were looking at how she acted.

Our focus verse today reminds us that God gives us the same admonition. He wants us to live in such a way that He may be glorified. We don’t have a Junior Ranger badge to identify us as Christians. All we have is the example of our lifestyle. Let us be careful in how we live so that we may bring glory and honor to God.

Father, forgive me for the times when my light does not shine for you. Open my eyes to lifestyle choices I’ve made that may not be pleasing to you.

Hearts at Home

2009-07-24T08:44:00.000-05:00

One of the things I love about blogging is the exchange of ideas that takes place; after all, what mom can't use a new idea every now and then!

If you are interested in a blog that brings a group of mommy bloggers all to one place, stop by and visit the Hearts at Home blog.

Hearts at Home's contributing bloggers write about motherhood, each with a unique perspective, reflecting on the spiritual, emotional and downright funny aspects of motherhood. Their group of bloggers range from professional speakers to authors to stay-at-home moms, all who share a passion for the profession of motherhood.

The Hearts at Home blog covers a variety of topics, such as practical mom tips, recipes, book reviews, and advice for tackling tough mommy issues.

Take a peek at this great resource and connect with real moms sharing real stories today!

Fireworks

2009-07-10T07:53:00.001-05:00

“The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23

My family went to our local Minor League baseball team’s game to celebrate the 4th of July. After the game, all the attendees were invited to stay to watch the fireworks put on by our city. As I was sitting there watching the beautiful bursts of light, I was reminded of God’s love and mercies.

The cascading glow of the fireworks represented God pouring out His love and mercies upon us. Sometimes we recognize His outpouring because it is so vast and cannot be missed much like the huge fireworks that explode with a big BOOM. Other times we may miss what He has given us because it is not so flashy. It may be He provides us with a blessing that is small that thrills us for a moment like a sparkler and then is over because life interrupts and we must focus on something else.

Today I challenge you to review what has taken place in your life this week. Identify instances where God may have been pouring out His love and mercies on you but you were too busy to notice. Praise Him for what He has done in your life.

Making Memories

2009-07-03T09:25:00.001-05:00

“But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.” Deuteronomy 4:9 NLT

I am addicted to scrapbooking. I have always loved looking at pictures and making albums out of them. I feel so blessed that I was introduced to scrapbooking when my husband and I were dating. I have albums from our dating years through our wedding and first years together. When we had kids, scrapbooking took on a whole new dimension. I wanted my kids to know all about their years growing up even when they could not remember events from those years anymore. To me scrapbooking is a priceless way to pass down not only family memories but your spiritual heritage.

This summer has been different than any other for our family. This is the first summer that we’ve not had a vacation planned before summer started. It is also the first summer I’ve had a job where the kids have had to stay with Nanny and Papa a few days each week. Now that we’re almost half way through I am asking myself “What do I want the kids to remember about this summer?”

I hope they remember that Mom tried her best to make her days off fun and not just days to catch up on housework. Maybe they’ll remember the days we went to the pool and put off chores for the day. Or maybe they’ll remember impromptu piano lessons, meals out to eat at a “sit down” restaurant or making cupcakes.

When summer is over and the kids are back in school, I will write down our memories and give the kids a summer scrapbook. I will write them notes about how much I love them and all the fun memories we created. If you have children or grandchildren, I challenge you to make memories with them this summer. Don’t forget to write them down so that they may be passed down to future generations.

Father, help us to never forget the precious memories you’ve entrusted to us. May we always be faithful to pass down our stories of your faithfulness to the next generation.

Pride Equals Destruction

2009-06-26T08:38:00.001-05:00

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 NIV

Ok, I confess…I have a pride issue. There, I said it. Sometimes I just want my own way or think my idea is the best way. Well, God has shown me many times that life is not all about me. He has directed my attention to show me that His way is the BEST way. When my pride takes over, I hinder God from giving me the opportunities and blessings He has planned for me. I’m so thankful God has gently shown me how to have a humble attitude when my pride gets out of control. His Word says that pride leads to destruction. It’s only because of God’s mercy and grace that my pride has not destroyed me.

Unfortunately, all we have to do is turn on the tv or pick up the newspaper to see where many people have destroyed their lives because of pride. Unfaithful spouses, dishonest business people and ministry leaders who forsake God’s ways are popular topics of articles. Their choices to follow their pride led to the destruction of their lives.

So, what can we do to recognize when our pride is about to get the best of us? Let’s take a look at the word PRIDE to help us determine what pride looks like.

P-Puts our wants before others’ needs. Sometimes this shows up in attitudes such as “It’s my way or the highway.” Pride keeps us from meeting others’ needs.

R-Rejects godly wisdom from those who see pride is in control of our lives. Pride blinds us to the fact that we are on the path to destruction. The counsel of godly friends makes no sense because it does not fit into our plans.

I-Incorrectly applies Scripture to justify our decisions. I’ve seen many people take a verse out of context just to prove that what they are doing is ok with God. We must be careful to read God’s Word as a whole and not take out the bits and pieces that sound good to us.

D-Distances us from those who don’t share our opinion. Our pride keeps us from forming the relationships we need to hold us accountable in our faith walk. When someone challenges our authority or opinion, pride makes us distance ourselves from them. We surround ourselves with people who share our opinion. The problem with this is that eventually we will alienate all those who care about us if we continue to hold on to our pride. We won’t have anyone around us that will agree with our opinion.

E-Exposes our true motives. Pride shows what we truly believe. If we think we are always right, our pride will expose our feelings of superiority over others. Pride says “I’m in charge, not God.”

I challenge you to look over this list and see if you do any of these things. Pray and ask God to reveal when pride is taking over your life.

Dear Father, open my heart and eyes to know when pride is taking over my life. Fill me with a humble spirit so that I may serve you better.

Talk is Cheap

2009-06-19T08:06:00.002-05:00

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NIV

Twitter, facebook, texting…these are the new ways of communication in the 21st century. We receive “words” from people without ever hearing their true voices. Sometimes these ways of communicating can be very convenient for our busy lifestyles. Other times they can cause miscommunication between two people because of the lack of face-to-face interaction. As we go about our daily business, we need to be aware that even though we may not be communicating through the words we say, the words we write, tweet or text can be just as powerful. We are still “talking” no matter the form of communication we choose to use.

Our focus verse today reminds us that we should strive to please God through what we say and what we think. Talk is cheap if we don’t have actions that back up what we say. Our mouths (or fingers) can say one thing, but if we don’t really believe what we say, our words are meaningless. How many times have we passed someone and said “How are you?” but don’t take the time to really hear their answer. Do we really care how the other person is doing?

One thing I’m working on in my own life is to make time to get to know people on a deeper level. I’m convinced that meaningful relationships with people are the way to encourage each other as well as further the kingdom of God. I want my words and actions to be pleasing to God. If I say I’m going to do something for someone, I want to do it.

I encourage you today to consider how you are using your words. Are you building up people or tearing them down with what you say (or write, tweet, text)? Make encouraging words a priority and see how great an impact you can have on someone’s life.

Chosen by God

2009-06-05T07:23:00.001-05:00

“The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: ‘Go to the great city of Ninevah and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.’” Jonah 1:1 TNIV

I love reading the story of Jonah. I remember growing up hearing the tale of Jonah and the whale in Sunday school. The teachers always made the story so exciting and intriguing. As I’ve grown older and have read the whole story of Jonah, I have realized that God uses us in the same way He used Jonah to save the people of Ninevah.

Sometimes Christians think just because they have accepted Christ that their lives will be easy and free from trouble. Not so. Jesus says in John 16:33b “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” There are times when our troubles may be God using us in a way that will further His Kingdom and bring Him glory. Look at Jonah. God called him to go to Ninevah, a very wicked city, to preach against it and condemn them to death if they did not change their ways. If you know anything about Jonah you know that he got swallowed by a big fish because he was disobedient and ran away from the task God gave him.

I think that God calls us into similar situations today. All you have to do is pick up the newspaper or watch the news to know how much wickedness is going on in the world today. Modern day Christians are called to stand up and proclaim the word of God to help save the world from its wickedness. Sometimes God places us in the heat of battle so that our lives may affect more people. Maybe you’re facing a troubled relationship, a serious illness, loss of a loved one or a loss of job. Take heart…maybe God is allowing this trouble to help further His Kingdom. Know that God is always in control, and that He has chosen YOU to proclaim the message of His love. What an honor to know that through your trials you are serving God!

Downcast Soul

2009-05-22T08:51:00.001-05:00

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5-6a

I have to confess this is not one of my better days being a Christian. I’m being very stubborn about something, and that is making me miserable. My soul is downcast because I am tired of waiting. Now, what I’m waiting on is really not that important. It truly is a petty issue. But, in my life, it’s a big deal to me. I’m finding out though that being stubborn makes my soul become depressed. And when my soul is depressed, nothing works out right in my life. Thus begins the cycle of depression, things going wrong, depression, etc. You get the picture.

So, this morning as I was having my quiet time, I remembered the focus verses from Psalms. I know the way I’m feeling is wrong and certainly not beneficial to me or God. I am trying my best to do what the last half of the verses say, and that is to put my hope in God and praise Him. It’s hard sometimes when life isn’t going your way. The last thing you want to do is to put your hope in someone else when everyone else has disappointed you. And praise? Who feels like doing that when their life is falling down around them? That’s how I feel today. But, I had another reminder from God’s Word. We are commanded in Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Two phrases stand out to me—in everything and with thanksgiving. No matter what we’re going through God wants us to pray about everything and give thanks to Him in every circumstance of our lives. What’s the benefit of that? Well, the next verse in Philippians says “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” That is what I want! I want peace in my situation and my heart and mind guarded so that I don’t become depressed when things aren’t going my way.

I challenge you today (and myself) to take all your cares and burdens to God. Praise Him for what He has already done in your life and what He is going to do. He will give you peace and guard you from depressing thoughts. Praise His name today!

Hearts at Home

2009-05-21T13:08:00.001-05:00

Motherhood is a valid profession.

It is that belief that inspired Jill Savage and a group of women to plan the first Hearts at Home conference 16 years ago. Today these conferences are a place where moms can go to find the encouragement and education they need to do this mothering thing right!

The problem is, not everyone can attend a Hearts at Home conference, so Hearts at Home University was created!

Hearts at Home University is a new resource designed to encourage and equip you in your journey as a parent! These live web casts, affordably priced at $15 each, allow you to tap into continuing education as a mom on a regular basis right from the comfort of your own computer.

The topics that will be covered over the Spring and Summer Semester include:

“Is There Really Sex after Kids” with Jill Savage
“She’s Gonna Blow” with Julie Barnhill
“Redefining Romance” with Mark and Jill Savage
“Keeping Your Ducks in a Relative Row” with Karen Ehman

For information on dates and times, or to register go here.

Hearts at Home

2009-04-17T08:38:00.000-05:00

Have you ever felt alone as a mom? Lost in your chosen field of mothering?

There is an organization that was created to encourage, educate and equip women in the profession of motherhood. Hearts at Home helps thousands of moms love their lives through their many resources including conferences, website, and books.

Recently I partnered up with this organization as a blogger. Over time I hope to share with you the many resources this ministry has to offer (old ones and new). To learn more about the Hearts at Home Blogging team go here.

In the meantime I would like to encourage you to explore their website and blog for an immediate dose of mothering encouragement.

Hospitality Begins at Home

2009-04-10T08:26:00.001-05:00

Last week I shared how we can welcome others into our home and make them feel special. This week I want to offer some tips on how we can minister to our families. After all, hospitality begins at home.

Mealtimes
Make mealtimes special for your family. Even though we live in such a busy society, I encourage you to try to eat together as a family at least 2 to 3 times a week. Mealtime doesn’t have to be elaborate. You can make mealtime special just by letting each family member know how much you are thankful for them.

Use mealtime to catch up on each other’s day. Give everyone an opportunity to share what they like about the day as well as what was not so fun. Share prayer requests and have your family pray together for these requests. This is a great way for your family to draw closer.

Try having a theme night. Maybe you can do this once a week or just once a month, but the idea is to get everyone excited about the special theme night. You can have a game night, Mexican night, movie night, scrapbook night or book night. Plan your food according to your theme. Put up decorations to make the mood more festive. Your family will love that you’ve taken the time to help them have fun.

Around the House

Celebrate successes and special occasions. When your child has done exceptionally well at school, have a small celebration and present her with flowers to show her how proud you are. For birthdays, go all out and decorate with balloons and make sure you have a cake. Celebrate as a family what God is doing in your lives.

Write encouraging notes to each other. Leave notes in lunch boxes and briefcases to let your family know how much you love them. They will be pleasantly surprised to find them throughout the day.

Create a wall of faith. Hang pictures or framed Bible verses that show how God has been at work in your family’s life. You might even have other memorabilia that could be put in shadow boxes. Use this as a conversation piece when you have company over. It’s a great way to share your testimony.

Our family should come first when we think about hospitality. Try some of these ideas to show your family how much you care about them. I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions as well.

What's Your Name?

2009-04-03T08:35:00.001-05:00

My family recently returned from a cruise to the Western Caribbean. We had such a great time together. Reflecting on our trip I realized that one reason we had so much fun was because of our waiter, Martin. He was a wonderful young man from the Czech Republic. With his beautiful accent and charming ways, he made sure we felt welcome when we came to dinner each evening. Now, I realize that he was doing his job, but observing his service made me think about ways we can make our guests feel more comfortable when we invite them into our homes.

The first thing Martin did when we met him was to learn our names. You might think that is standard for all the waiters, but it is not. We actually did not meet Martin until our second evening on the cruise. We originally had a different seating time and waiter. Our first waiter was very nice and attentive, but he never inquired about our names. We were moved to an earlier seating the next day and were placed in Martin’s care. Martin not only addressed us by name at dinner, he remembered us whenever he saw us on the ship.

Our names are important. Everyone wants to be known by someone. What I am taking away from this experience is that if we really want to get to know someone, we must know their name. And by knowing their name, we get to know them and who they really are. With our fast paced and hectic lives we do not take the time to get to know people on a deep, intimate level.

My challenge this week is to invite someone into my home with the purpose of getting to know them better. By forging bonds with other people, we create a sense of community that I feel is lacking in our society today. And when we develop community we strengthen our own families and churches. We have more of a desire to minister to others.

I pray for you this week that God will reveal to you someone you need to encourage by getting to know them better. Please add your comments to this post and share how you get to know others.

APRIL GIVEAWAY
This month’s giveaway is the book The Busy Mom’s Guide by Kathy Peel. If you leave a comment on my blog anytime in the month of April your name will go into a drawing for the book.

Hearts at Home

2009-03-20T08:09:00.000-05:00

Today I’d like to welcome author and speaker, Jill Savage. Jill’s recent book Real Moms…Real Jesus, just released, and I wanted to ask her about her real mom moments..

Jill, tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
Mark and I have been married 25 years and we have five children. Anne is 24 and married to our wonderful son-in-love, Matt. Evan is 21 and married to our beautiful daughter-in-love, Julie. Erica is 18 and a college student at Heartland Community College. Kolya is 15 and in the 8th grade. We adopted Kolya at the age of 9 from Russia---the God story about his adoption is included in the Real Moms…Real Jesus book. And Austin is 12 and in the 7th grade.

Tell us about your newest book Real Moms...Real Jesus?
Real Moms…Real Jesus is a book designed to help moms understand that when Jesus lived on this earth he was fully God, yet fully man. We don’t often think about the fact that he was a human being and he lived the full human experience: pain, hunger, fatigue, frustration, betrayal, disappointment. He experienced it all!

There’s one verse in the Bible about Jesus that simply says “large crowds followed him everywhere he went.” Well, isn’t that the life of a mom? Large crowds follow her to the bathroom. They follow her to the kitchen. To the grocery store. She’s in high demand! And when Jesus lived on this earth, He was in high demand, too.

Why did you want to write this book?
Most of us long for a friend who understands. Yes, we need girlfriends who understand what our life is like. But we also need to understand that we have a friend who understands in Jesus. Too many of us think of God as being distant and unable to relate to our daily struggles. But nothing could be further from the truth! He understands and he wants us to build our friendship with Him. He wants to not only be our Savior, but also our Friend.

What do you hope your readers will gain from this book?
I hope that readers will gain a new perspective about their relationship with Jesus. I also hope to weave God’s truth into the daily life of a mom.

What unique elements will the reader find in Real Moms…Real Jesus?
Each chapter looks at some character trait in Jesus’ life that can help us in our life as a mom. In between the chapters are interactive vignettes that provide brief, refreshing glimpses into our real, messy, busy lives.

There are also questions at the end of the chapter for further consideration and suggested Bible reading in the book of Matthew. If the reader chooses to pursue the suggested reading, she will have read the book of Matthew completely by the end of the book!

There is also a leader’s guide in the back of the book so it can be used in a group setting.

This is a Hearts at Home book. What is Hearts at Home?
Hearts at Home is an organization that encourages, educates, and equips women in the profession of motherhood. Hearts at Home encourages moms through annual conferences, our extensive website (www.hearts-at-home.org), a free bi-weekly electronic newsletter, a radio program, and an entire line of books designed to meet the needs of moms all over the world!

Any closing thoughts?
I am very excited about this book! I believe that if a mom can strengthen her relationship with Jesus Christ, she will feel more equipped to be the mom she wants to be. I’m also offering an online book discussion on my blog beginning Tuesday, April 7. If you’d like to join us, you can subscribe to my blog at www.jillsavage.org.

I’d love to hear a reader’s thoughts after they read the book, too! You can connect to me through my blog at www.jillsavage.org.

Thanks, Jill, for taking time out of your busy schedule to share your real mom, real Jesus moments with us.

You can purchase your own copy of Real Moms…Real Jesus by clicking here.

And be sure to check out Hearts at Home, their conferences for moms, and all their online resources here.

Ask and Receive

2009-02-13T08:28:00.002-06:00

I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands. Psalm 119:166

Obedience…such a great concept but hard to follow up on. We all want to be obedient and do the right thing. Sometimes that is not always the easiest thing to do. We have times where we want to do our own thing whether it is right or not.

John gives us these words to remember in 1 John 3:21-23, “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”

Our obedience allows us to pray to God and receive from Him anything we ask. His response may not be in the way we would expect it or want it to be, but He will respond. How do we get this privilege, though?

We see in 1 John we are to obey God’s commands and do what pleases Him. But what are those commands? We are to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ and to love one another. Believing that Jesus is God’s Son is crucial to living an obedient life for God. If we don’t believe, then we are not God’s children. Loving one another is so important to God. It’s by our love to others that the world will know we belong to God.

The verses in 1 John also tell us that God will give us what we ask of Him if our hearts do not condemn us. That means we are praying in God’s will and in accordance to what He wants for us. Therefore, our desires are His desires.

Take time today to read your Bible and search out God’s desires. Then, be obedient by making sure you have a relationship with His Son, Jesus, and are willing to love others.

Following the Crowd

2009-02-06T08:29:00.003-06:00

"Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong" Exodus 23:2a

Last week we discussed why it is important to be a Christ follower. We saw that Christ is the Leader we are to follow. The question now is “How do we follow Christ?” Let me share some practical ways to follow Christ in our daily walk.

Choose to follow Christ and not the crowd. Exodus 23:2a says “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” We have so many opportunities to follow the crowd on a daily basis. When we let our lives get out of control, following the crowd seems like the best thing to do. We look for quick ways to make more money, lose more weight or get more done in our days. Quite simply, that is not God’s way. Jesus’ own words tell us in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Choose to make the Bible your manual for living. God speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. Commit to reading the Bible regularly to learn more about how God wants you to live. Join a Bible study, study different topics in the Bible, or read the Bible through. If you are faithful to study God’s Word, He will be faithful to show you the way He wants you to live.

Choose to set a Christ-like example. We have many people that we influence every day. We are mothers, wives, daughters, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and much more. If we are dedicated to becoming Christ followers, then we need to let our actions match our commitment. Be careful in all that you do so that your life will point others to Christ. 1 Peter 3:15 gives us this command “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Commit yourself to following Christ. I promise you that you are in for the adventure of a lifetime.

Christ Followers

2009-01-30T08:34:00.003-06:00

“Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:10 NKJV

I have been trying to get into a routine of walking for several weeks now. I know that walking will not only help me lose the weight I’ve been trying to shed, but it will improve my overall health and stamina. However, there is one problem…my lack of will power. I just can’t get up in the morning early enough to get the household chores done so that I’ll have time to walk after I take the kids to school.

Sometimes I have the same problem when I’m trying to follow Christ. I just don’t have the will power to keep on going. I know that following Christ will be beneficial for me and for His Kingdom, but there are some days that it’s hard to follow Him. When this happens, I try to re-focus my thoughts and remember what God’s Word says about being a Christ follower.

First, when I realize that I am following the world more than I am following Jesus, I remember that Exodus 23:2a says “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” I examine my thoughts and actions to see if I am following the crowd more than I’m following Jesus.

Next, Psalm 119:166 reminds me to follow God’s commands. “I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands.” I search God’s word for His commands so that I know what He wants me to do.

Finally, I heed the words of Micah 6:8, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” I test my thoughts and actions to see if they are in line with God’s requirements.

Over the next month, we will explore each one of these elements of following Christ in depth. Then the last week of February we will see how the life of Paul was changed as he became a Christ follower.

My prayer for you is that you will allow God to work in your life and show you what it means to be a Christ follower. He alone is the Hope for your home.

What's Your Story?

2009-01-06T15:20:00.002-06:00

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4 TNIV

2009 is here, so what are you going to do? Are you going to spend your time spinning your wheels trying to get more accomplished in less time? Or, are you going to allow God to direct your path and show you what He wants you to do? The new year always brings an opportunity to "start over" and begin anew. There are so many things I would like to accomplish this year, but I know that not all of those things are what God wants me to do. My number one priority this year is to spend more time in His Word learning all I can about Him so that I will recognize when He is talking to me and showing me His will.

God was so gracious last year in opening many significant doors of opporunity for me. Looking back, I realize that I would never be able to guess all that He was going to do in my life last year. So, that makes me all the more excited about 2009. As I glance at the calendar for this year, I have no idea what God has in store for me. All I know is that there will be some good and some not so good. But, whatever He chooses for me, I have the confident hope that He will work things according to His purpose.

We read in Romans that we have stories in the Bible to show us that we have hope no matter what we go through. When your story is told this year, will your life reflect that hope? Remember that future generations will be looking back to see what we did with our lives and how we handled whatever came our way. What's your story going to be?

The Book Shelf

2008-12-16T13:52:00.003-06:00

There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on earth. Ecclesiastes 3:1 The Message

Sitting at my desk working on various projects, I reach up to pull a binder off my book shelf that contains info I need to complete a particular task. Something about this motion has caused me to stop and examine my book shelf closely. I see binders containing information about different church activities I'm in charge of, various versions of the Bible, Bible study aids, notebooks and books about organizing. I realize that I have a book shelf full of binders and information. I have to stop myself and ask "Are all of these really necessary?" See, we're told in God's Word that there is a right time for everything on earth. My book shelf represents my life. If my book shelf is full of binders that represent activities I'm involved in, then maybe I should examine those binders and see if I'm involved in things that God really want me to do. If my book shelf is full, do I continually try to squeeze more on there to make myself feel useful or needed?

I encourage you to look at your personal "book shelf" as we head into 2009. Is God leading you to remove some of those binders so He can replace them with the right binders? Don't get bogged down with your life. Take your schedule to God and He will show you what to do.

Mommy Meltdown

2008-11-07T08:13:00.002-06:00

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Psalms 23:1 TNIV

I have to confess...I'm in the middle of a mommy meltdown. This is just one of those times that I let my world get out of control by not allowing God to be my main focus and to be the One in control of my life. As a stay at home mom I continually struggle with self-worth. I know that I am doing what God wants me to do. I know that what I do is very important and will make an eternal difference, but sometimes it feels like it's not enough. I read an article yesterday about some influential women in my state. They all had high-powered jobs as CEO's, presidents, directors and managers of successful companies. Since I'm in the mindset of being in a mommy meltdown, this article just further reinforced to me that I have chosen a position that the world does not necessarily view as successful or worthy of value. There are some days that I want to do something that the world will notice (or even my family and friends) and will recognize me for my accomplishments. But, I have to stop and remember that I am doing what God has called me to do. Yes, that means about 99.5% of what I do goes unrecognized or unappreciated. There are the occasions where people will tell me what great kids I have and how well I am raising them. But those are few and far between.

Last night as I was reading a devotion with my daughter, the key verse was Psalms 23:1. I think God placed that there for my benefit to help me realized that He is all I need and that I lack nothing with Him in my life. So, as I progress through this mommy meltdown, I pray that I come out on the other side better equipped to keep this thought in mind constantly. When I start to have a meltdown because the things I want to happen are not happening on my time table, I want to remember that I lack nothing and that God is on my side.

I encourage you to remember this as well. When all looks bleak and hopeless, know that God is your shepherd and you lack nothing.

Peacemakers

2008-09-25T15:44:00.003-05:00

Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 5:9

I did something totally out of character for me today. Normally, I do my best to avoid conflict. I would rather be a peacemaker than get caught up in the drama of life. Somehow pent up frustrations got the best of me and I emailed someone thoughts I had that we probably should have talked through. I've discovered that email is not a great way to communicate because it is hard to discern the tone the writer is using. I tried to make it clear that my tone was not angry or condemning, but I'm sure that didn't lessen the bite of the words that followed. God calls us to be peacemakers. I was not a peacemaker in my email today. Although the things I had to say were valid in my opinion, I probably should have chosen a more peaceful way to say them.

I don't know what the outcome will be from this email. Hopefully not a damaged relationship, but then you never know what the other person is going through when they hear your not so peaceful words. I pray that God will show me how to be a peacemaker every day of my life. I don't know about you, but I want to be known as a son (daughter) of God.

Every Mom Counts

2008-09-22T08:13:00.003-05:00

Are you a mom? Would you like to know that there are other moms out there who understand what your life is like? Then you need to know about Hearts at Home. I have personally experienced Hearts at Home through the Hearts at Home website and publications. Hearts at Home also offers conferences for moms. A Hearts at Home conference is like going to "mommy school." You'll laugh, you'll learn, and you'll be inspired to be the best mom you can be. Additionally Hearts at Home offers books, an online mothering community, a bi-monthly magazine, and a free E-Newsletter. I strongly urge you to grab some girlfriends and attend one of their upcoming conferences:

October 3-4, 2008 Grand Rapids, Michigan

November 7-8, 2008 Rochester, Minnesota

March 13-14, 2009 Bloomington, Illinois

If you don't live close enough to drive to a conference, and hopping on a plane isn't an option, you can also order a Home Conference Packet which gives you the conference via CD.

Check out the Hearts at Home website today and find out all that Hearts at Home has to offer you!

http://www.hearts-at-home.org/

Money

2008-08-18T09:14:00.002-05:00

Money can be one of the most challenging departments that a Family Manager has to deal with. So many conflicts arise because of money, or lack of money. Remember that most families typically have a certain amount of income each month. It is important that you learn how to budget your money so that you can provide for your family. You also want to be able to save some money and have some to give to your church.

Take Home Tips:

Learn how to make a simple budget for your family. Start by recording how much income you have every month. Take a look at past receipts to determine how much you spend on food, clothing, gas, kids activities, etc. Then estimate what you will need each month to provide for your family's needs. Also, allot 10% to savings and 10% to tithe. Once you write down your expenses for each month, you will be able to determine what is really necessary and what you can cut back on or eliminate.

Start teaching your kids at a young age how to save money. Give them an allowance and teach them how to budget to save for toys that they might want. Also, teach your kids to give a portion of their allowance to church and charities.

Be Still

2008-08-04T18:52:00.002-05:00

"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Psalm 46:10 NKJV

Summer is drawing to a close all too quickly. Two weeks from today, my kids will be back at our neighborhood school learning what is expected of them in 1st and 3rd grade. As I've looked back over our summer, I have been feeling like we just haven't done much this summer. At least not much that has "meant" something. I keep thinking we should have done "more". Now, let me give you my definition of "more" . . . I mean more educational activities, more family quality time, more spiritual training. More, more, more.

Lately, though, I've discovered that I've been beating myself up over not doing "more" for nothing. This verse from the Psalms came to me as a friend and I were talking about what we had accomplished with our kids this summer. After we had decided that neither of us had done all the things we would have liked, we came to the conclusion that the summer has not been a total waste. When kids are pushed so hard during the school year with homework, tests, sports, music lessons, church, etc., sometimes it's ok to just let them be kids and to let them just hang out. Whether it's unstructured playtime, watching t.v. or just doing nothing, it's always good to "be still".

God tells us to "be still" so that we can know He is God. What a wonderful thing to pass along to our kids! If we can teach them to "be still", we can teach them to listen for the voice of God. So, when you think you need to do "more" with your kids, remember to "be still".

Food

2008-07-10T12:24:00.002-05:00

The second department a Family Manager has to manage is Food. This relates to planning menus, shopping for food and looking out for the most economical way to feed your family. I'll have to admit that this is the area I struggle with the most. I'm the world's worst when it comes to sitting down to plan out meals for my family before I go to the grocery store. I do not like going to the grocery store, so I really try to make only one trip per week. But, sometimes that gets me into trouble if I don't plan well. We end up in the middle of the week with just bits and pieces of meals, and the kids end up eating lunch meat and crackers for dinner. So, obviously this is one area I need to work on myself.

I am a big fan of clipping coupons, but only if they are for products you would normally use. Buying food for you family in an economical way is hard work. But, with a little diligence and patience, you can stretch your dollar far. I always look at the sale papers to see what products we use might be on sale. I try to take advantage of the weekly sale prices. Also, if your grocery store has a free rewards program, make sure you sign up for this. Many times products are marked down just for rewards program members.

Take Home Tip: Write on index cards two weeks worth of your family's favorite meals and the ingredients necessary to prepare those meals. Then each week shuffle the cards and draw out how many you need for the number of days you will cook that week. Use these to create your shopping list. But, be warned...having the same meals over and over will get boring. So, always keep your eyes open for new recipes and meal ideas that your family will like.

Home and Property

2008-05-22T19:03:00.002-05:00

Home and property is probably one of the most time consuming departments that you will have to manage. It encompasses overseeing the maintenance and care of all tangible assets, including personal belongings, the house and its surroundings. This means things such as air conditioning repair, routine house cleaning, laundry and yard work. Actually, this list could go on and on with numerous duties to be performed. So, it's no surprise when we get bogged down in our daily lives that sometimes these things get pushed aside. It cannot be stressed enough that routine maintenance of our homes will save us time, money and energy in the long run. Take today for instance--we had a leak in our air conditioning unit upstairs. This was first discovered yesterday when I noticed water running down our living room wall. If we had made the time to have our units serviced before we needed to use them, we probably would have discovered this leak and saved ourselves a paint job and needless stress.

TAKE HOME TIP: Create a list of all the major items in your home that you depend on daily. This could include your air conditioning/heating units, water heater, washer/dryer, etc. After you create your list, make a yearly maintenance schedule so that you can be assured that these items are working properly and any problems can be caught and fixed before they become a potential disaster. Even taking time each month to maintain your washer by running diluted bleach through it can help it last longer and perform better for your needs.

The Family Manager Coach

2008-05-16T16:30:00.002-05:00

I just recently completed training to become a Certified Family Manager Coach. I started the training because I have always enjoyed organizing and trying to find different ways to make things work around our home. I also wanted to do the training because the program made sense to me. It teaches you how to manage your home by departments. I'll share more about the departments in a minute. But, the main reason I wanted to do the training is because I love to see women live to the full potential God has given them. And, by being a Family Manager Coach, I can help women simplify their lives so that they can do the things God intends for them to do.

Now, back to the departments. The concept of running my home as a small business really clicks with me. As a CPA, I'm used to the business world, so when I became a stay-at-home mom I tried hard to make things work the way I thought they should work. But, I realized that I didn't have all of the skills or knowledge to do everything I wanted to do. When I read Kathy Peel's book, The Family Manager Takes Charge, the lightbulb went on inside my head. She described exactly what I was looking for and what made the most sense to me. When you think about it, our homes are really like small businesses. If you have a large family, it may be more like a small corporation! But, whatever size home you have, you can benefit by treating the day-to-day activities like a small business. Following is a list of the seven departments and their descriptions:

Home and Property-Overseeing the maintenance and care of all tangible assets, including personal belongings, the house and its surroundings.

Food-Meeting the daily food and nutrition needs of the family economically and creatively.

Money-Budgeting, investing, paying bills, saving and handling a host of other monetary issues.

Family and Friends-Dealing with family life and relationships, including child-rearing, education, marriage, friends, neighbors and aging parents.

Special Events-Coordinating large and small projects--birthdays, holidays, vacations, garage sales, family reunions--that fall outside the normal family routine.

Time and Scheduling-Acting as the facilitator so the household runs smoothly and family members get to the right places at the right time, with the right equipment.

Self-Management-Taking care of yourself physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.

In the coming days I will go into greater detail about these departments. No one person is perfect in all areas, so remember to recruit help in your home. I'll speak more about that later as well.

The Partner's Wife

2008-05-05T12:16:00.003-05:00

My husband just became an audit partner at the accounting firm where he works. I am so proud of him and this accomplishment. He is certainly receiving a great reward for the 15 years of his life that he has given to work as an accountant. Sometimes, though, I selfishly ask myself "What about me?" I am the partner's wife. Shouldn't I get some reward from this as well? Shouldn't I get to drive that new SUV I've had my eye on? Shouldn't we get to build the new house I've wanted? Shouldn't others treat me with more respect because I am "THE PARTNER'S WIFE"? One day while out running errands, I heard the encouraging word of the day on KLOVE. It was from Proverbs 22:1, and it says "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." I believe that God was speaking to me that day to remind me that I am His and that He is my reward. When I got home, I looked up the verse on KLOVE's website to read more about it. Their commentary on this verse confirmed that God was speaking to me about this issue. It said "The best way to gain a good reputation is to focus on obeying God, not on earning other's approval. People who honor God win respect." After reading these words, I realize that I'm not going to get respect just because I am the partner's wife. True respect only comes after living an obedient life for God. Maybe now I can focus on obedient living and leave the rest up to God.

The Family Manager

2008-04-29T19:15:00.003-05:00

Jennifer is a Certified Family Manager Coach. She has completed the necessary training through a program created by Kathy Peel called Family Manager University. She is trained to inspire, equip and assist her clients in creating an organized home environment and living a more balanced, fulfilling life based on the client's goals and priorities. She offers Family Manager Makeover Assessments, Makeover Action Plans and other personalized coaching services based on proven Family Manager strategies and solutions.

Jennifer offers all of these services to help equip women to serve God and their families in a balanced manner.

Check back for upcoming Family Manager events by clicking on the Schedule tab.

Contact

2008-04-29T09:02:00.001-05:00

Contact me at:

jennifer_booth@sbcglobal.net

Schedule

2008-04-29T09:01:00.011-05:00

2009 Schedule

January 13
Connections Women's Mission Group
Park Hill Baptist Church
North Little Rock, AR

April 24-25
Arkansas WMU Missions Celebration
Park Hill Baptist Church
North Little Rock, AR

Resources

2008-04-29T09:01:00.009-05:00

The following list contains resources that you may find helpful as you are learning to serve God and your family.

Books

The Family Manager Takes Charge by Kathy Peel
Desperate Households by Kathy Peel

Websites

http://www.wmu.com/
http://www.mymissionfulfilled.com/
http://www.proverbs31.org/
http://www.hearts-at-home.org

Speaking Topics

2008-04-29T09:00:00.008-05:00

Jennifer's topics are designed to be approximately 30 minutes to an hour in length. Each topic is flexible. The topics may be presented individually or blended together to adapt to the theme and needs of your group.

Christian Faithbooking -- Ideas for Creating Your Legacy of Faith

Master Calendar--Honoring God with Your Time--Innovative tips and ideas about taking control of your calendar and using your time to honor God.

Summer Survival -- When school's out, mom hardly feels like she's on vacation. Discover how to create special memories while still maintaining sanity and a reasonable structure.

About Jennifer

2008-04-29T09:00:00.006-05:00

Jennifer is new to the world of speaking and writing. Having sensed a call in her life in early 2008, she is learning from and listening to God as He directs her on this new journey.

She is married to Steven Booth, and they have two elementary aged children, Harrison and Elizabeth. The Booth family resides in North Little Rock, Arkansas and are members at Park Hill Baptist Church. She is currently a member of the Arkansas WMU Executive Board. She has led conferences for Arkansas WMU since 2004.

Jennifer is excited to share what God has laid on her heart about women serving God and their families.

Home

2008-04-29T09:00:00.001-05:00

Coming Soon

The Procedure

2008-04-21T13:04:00.003-05:00

Last week I had a small "procedure" done to remove something on my body that I didn't need. I won't go into great detail because what was removed is not important. The fact that I needed to have something removed that I didn't need got me thinking about all the things in my life that I don't need that should be removed. I could list a number of things that need to be removed in my life, but I'll keep my list brief. First, discontentment takes up a lot of my time. If only we could build our house now, I could . . . Or, if only my children (or husband) would . . ., I would be happy. How much time, and sometimes money, I've wasted because of my discontentment. Wouldn't life be simpler if I just let God take care of my needs instead of wasting my time trying to fill the empty spots in my life? How about bitterness? So many times I let events that have happened in the past pop back into my mind where they are replayed so many times that I become bitter over the way circumstances turned out. Again, wouldn't life be simpler if I let God take care of the hurt feelings and teach me how to forgive? Finally, there is the unconfident nature. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel that I can't do anything right. Some days I feel that all I've done is for nothing, and that I am the biggest failure in the world. God doesn't want us to live like that. He teaches that we can boldly approach the throne of grace. He also teaches that we are not to be afraid. He is our deliverer and will be with us wherever we go. How about you? Do you have things in your life that need to be removed? May I suggest that we go to the Great Physician and ask Him to perform a "procedure" on us so that He can remove all of the unnecessary things in our lives?

Strange is the New Normal

2008-04-18T20:28:00.000-05:00

My husband said these words to me last night. I know he said them because lately I've been telling him how strange I feel. Yes, I feel strange sometimes, but I have a good reason. Even though I'm just 37, I have to take what I call "old people" medicine. I take medicine twice a day so my husband doesn't have to put up with my restless legs at night. And, sometimes, I feel strange after taking it. I can't define what I mean by strange, except that I don't feel normal. But, what's normal anymore to me? After all, it seems that strange is the new normal for me. You may wonder where I'm going with this. Well, what if we look at our lives as Christians? Do other people call us "strange" because our lives are radically different from the world? Or do others see us as "normal" because our lives blend in seamlessly with the world? What if strange became the new normal for us because we were living radically different lives? As Paul says in Galatians 1:10 TNIV "Am I now trying to win human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." Let us take notice of Paul's words and live our lives so that people may call us strange. And, in doing so, may we encourage others to live as if strange is the new normal.