My Bible Reading Goals for 2015

Recently I wrote about the Bible being our spiritual mirror.

Have you ever let that reflection get so foggy, you hardly recognize yourself? If so, you are not alone!

I know as moms, we can get so bogged down with every day life that we get away from the most important thing. The reason we do anything at all: God! His Spirit. His Words.

They are life-giving, and every time I read them, I see myself a little more clearly.

Once upon a time, I wasn't yet a wife, I didn't have children, and I pretty much only had myself to think about. Whoo! I was so spiritual! Can you relate to that? I thank God that I had time to myself early on to dive deep into His Word and get to know my way around the Bible, but thankfully, He had more in store for me!

I was soon married and quickly (really quickly!) became a mother, and then became a mother again...and again, and now I'm expecting our fourth blessing. I can be exhausted sometimes. It can be so hard to get up earlier than everyone. It can be a challenge to get to bed at a decent hour, because I spend time catching up on things after everyone else is in bed. In the most recent times that I've gotten up and have been able to spend uninterrupted time in His Word, it has been glaringly obvious to me that I've become distant from Him.

I don't want that to be the case in 2015! So, I'm pressing on. I mentioned a while back that I had found a great Bible reading plan in the YouVersion app on my phone. Guess what? I'm still plugging away at that plan! Project 345 Plus is a 365 day reading plan, most days having four chapters to read. Needless to say, it's taken me much longer than 365 days to read through it! But that's okay. I was pregnant with my third child when I started it, and that plan has seen me through a pregnancy, a postpartum period, a growing infant turned busy toddler, all while homeschooling my two older children, and now another pregnancy.

My plan is to be purposeful about waking up earlier than everyone so I can have that uninterrupted time to read and soak in His Word. I need that time to replenish my spirit! I need it to give me the mental, emotional, and spiritual energy to keep things going smoothly around here (I plan to do a better job at that this year! Only by His grace).

Will you join me? Pick out a Bible reading plan on YouVersion or somewhere else (even the back of your Bible might have one) and just get started. You won't have to waste time hemming and hawing over your Bible in the morning about what you should or shouldn't read. You'll know what's next. And amazingly, so will God. I'm always astounded that whatever I'm reading is exactly what I need for today. He is so good!

What Bible-reading goals do you have this year? Share in a comment!

Unburdened: An Introduction

I hinted back a few months ago in another post, about having chosen a word (or rather it choosing ME) for 2014. This is my first time just meditating on a single word for the year, rather than setting a bunch of goals of things I wanted to focus on for the year. Both ways are great! Both ways keep you from drifting through the year, and both things can be used as a filter for decisions to pass through so that you don't waste your time and energy.

At the beginning of this year, though, I think I was feeling overwhelmed, and just needed to find that "laser-focus" and clarity to come out ahead when all is said and done (something that seems to have eluded me in some seasons).

The word that settled in my spirit is "unburdened". I know, six months into it, that this is God's path for me this year. He has been faithful to show me so many ways that He is indeed, unburdening me. And it's awesome. 

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Through this process, I'm beginning to see how "heavy laden" I am. Or was. I don't know that it is totally obvious that I have been crouching under the weight of spiritual, physical and soulish burdens- and the fact is, I don't even think I realized it! But God knows. Of course He does. And as He is peeling back those layers, I have been able to breathe easier, stand up a little straighter, and see His vision a little more clearly.

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

Some of the unburdening has been simple, little changes. Others, much bigger and more complicated. Some things, a little silly, and "why didn't I think of that sooner?" But all woven together, and totally evident that God is at work in me!

This unburdening is part of the reason I've been able to get back into blogging! I have renewed purpose for this space, and I hope you'll join me here as I continue to share what God has been doing over the coming weeks! 



Did you choose a word for the year? How's it going? Share in a comment!

Linking up with these fine blogs:








  

My Smartphone Keeps Me Connected . . . to God?

I've always been sort of a low tech kinda girl. In the past, when choosing a mobile phone, I just really wanted something I could make phone calls on, send text messages and take a picture or record video on. (Okay, I know that's not low tech to some people). So when my husband and I were in the market for new phones this past December, he was really excited that there were great deals on Smartphones. I was really hesitant to get on board with that idea, and I hoped to stick with something more basic. So I researched all my (surprisingly limited) options online, but ultimately, I chose to get an Android, all the while telling myself that if I didn't like it, I could return it and get something with fewer "bells and whistles".

Flash forward a couple months, and it turns out, I really kind of like it! (Okay, sometimes a little too much!)

Anyway, I recently came across this awesome app on my phone called You Version. It has the Bible in many different versions, as well as several other useful tools.

I had been struggling to stay in the Word for a number of reasons, and looking to find a Bible reading plan that I could realistically stick with. Well, one day I got curious, and started exploring this app, and noticed that there were Bible reading plans. Oh, my goodness! There are probably hundreds of different plans to choose from. Ranging from your basic "read through the Bible in a year" to chronological studies to week long plans for study on a particular topic.

I ended up going with one called Project 345 Plus. It includes readings from the New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs as well as selected readings from the Old Testament.

What I really, really love about this app? The "Catch Me Up" button! Usually, during the week, there are four selections to read, and when you complete all of them, it congratulates you on completing a day (who wouldn't love that?) But when you don't, there's the option to catch up, and when you tap the button, it basically updates your plan so that you don't skip the readings, but you also don't get "swamped" with missed readings. As a mom of two little ones, and one on the way, I really appreciate that!

So, how does that keep me connected to God? Not only can I pretty much do my study time any time, anywhere, but it also keeps me focused. I know that I can open the app any day, and have something specific to read. While I haven't gotten back in the habit of a daily study time, I'm closer than I would be otherwise.

Does reading the Word somewhat regularly or even everyday make me perfect? Absolutely not! But at least I have a better chance to "hide His Word in my heart" (Psalm 119:11) than I would otherwise.

Do you use any "gadgets" to keep you focused spiritually?

Keys to Overcoming Anger- Staying Connected

 ¹ Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2, New King James Version)

As a wife and mom, there are many things that I have reacted to in anger over the past few years.

Anger because I feel let down. I feel rushed or overwhelmed. I feel like there's not one more interruption I can tolerate. I can't bear to feel one more small round bit of cereal crunching under my feet.

Before I was married, I seldom got angry. I was so spiritual then! As one man of God has said, "everyone is super-spiritual until they get around other people." That truth certainly has played out in my life!

People make mistakes. They stumble. They sin. Sometimes against you!

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

It's such a cliche. And one that I kind of got tired of hearing...until I got it!

When we allow ourselves to respond in anger, we are taking our eyes off of Jesus, and putting our hopes and expectations on our husband, our children, our whatever! 

We must stay connected to Jesus, no matter what! That does not mean that we will never get angry at anything. But those frustrating situations will be less and less in our minds as we are looking to Him to meet our needs, to fulfill our expectations and hopes. He really is everything to us! 

As we learn dependence on Him, we will begin to overcome anger!

 ³³ These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, New King James Version)

What helps you to stay connected to Jesus?

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The Cure for the Housetop Husband

The view is nice, but he'd rather be inside! :)

Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman. Proverbs 21:9

And how about this one:

Better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman. Proverbs 21:19

After reading about the "whatever you think" principle in the book The Surrendered Wife (an awesome book recommended to me by a good friend), it made me realize that that is what the husband's perspective is. He would rather dwell on the roof or in the wilderness than put up with a wife that is constantly resisting him! That's really sad! We can push our husbands away by being contentious (defined as "tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome"). We may not push them to the roof or the wilderness, but maybe to the television or the garage, where he's technically present, but not really there!

This is something that is so important to a man- to be respected! Otherwise, the Bible would not give wives instructions to respect their husbands. But in our culture, it can be one of the most difficult things for a woman to do! Something that is very unnatural to us. Is that something you can relate to? But as followers of Christ (and women who want our marriages to thrive) we really need to reconsider our actions.

And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude] Ephesians 4:23 (Amplified)

We can be terribly disrespectful to our husbands when we insist on controlling most everything. I'm even talking about little things like "you're going to wear that tie? I really like the blue one with that shirt" or "you shouldn't drink so much soda...it's really bad for you" We may feel like we're trying to help, but that's not the way it's perceived. Like the author says in The Surrendered Wife, "When you squash your husband's ideas you are telling him you don't trust him. Without trust there can be no intimacy. Therefore, one of the keys to relinquishing control is to respect your husband's thinking."

This is where "whatever you think" comes into play.

The next time your husband says something you don't automatically agree with, try it! "Whatever you think." It may be awkward at first, but as you practice it, it will get easier. You will begin to see that every thought of his does not need to be corrected or improved. It's okay if he wants to try to fix the problem with the family vehicle himself. Saying "whatever you think" does not automatically mean that you are gung-ho about him suddenly becoming a mechanic. It does mean that you respect his opinion (and trust that he can reasonably assess his own skill level in the event that it's too difficult.)

...and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly]. Ephesians 5:33 (Amplified, emphasis mine)

Have you ever found yourself in the role of the "contentious woman"? How did you change your behavior? Share in the comments!

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Religion or Relationship?

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28-30 Message

 

I love this Scripture! In my experience, this it what it's really like following Jesus. The only ones who burden us are ourselves (or other well-meaning people) who think that God requires us to work for our relationship with Him. Sure, we do have a part to play- just like with any relationship. But God wants to give us so much more than He requires from us!

As wives and mothers this perspective is so helpful...so freeing. We need the "unforced rhythms of grace" at work in our lives on a daily basis.

God offers us a relationship. He gives us strength and wisdom for everyday. Peace. Hope. Love. All that good stuff! He gives it to us, so we can give it to others. Our husband. Our children. Our home. Our ministry.

Walk with Him today! Don't be afraid of "giving up too much" for the sake of His Kingdom. Just take it step by step. Go as He directs. You won't get overwhelmed or burned out!

Is your walk with God about religion or a relationship?

The Most Frightening Prayer

"Change me, Lord."

"Change my heart."

Frightening because you have no idea what God is going to do with that liberty.

I have found myself hesitating to utter those words at times, not sure what will happen.  Not sure what part of myself I would lose.

But, think of what you could gain!  Psalm 37:4 states "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart."

God will never allow you to surrender a part of your soul without replacing it with something glorious.  A new passion.  A new perspective.  Wisdom.  Grace.

Those "desires of your heart" might even be a desire so deep you didn't even know it was there. 

Are you struggling with something right now?  Marriage?  Motherhood?  Ministry?  Another relationship?  Something else altogether?

Cry out to God.  Ask Him to change the situation...starting with you!  Allow Him to show you things you've never seen before.  He will!  The Bible says in James 4:6 "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:  'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'"

So whether you're dealing with unforgiveness, or something you don't feel like doing, or some other kind of tough situation, God has the answer...but it may not be what you think!  Allow yourself to be surprised by His answer to the situation!  You won't regret it.

Linking up for Women Living Well Wednesdays:

Blessed are the Peacemakers

"Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!" Matthew 5:9

 I so wish I could say in all actuality that the above Scripture always suits me to a "T". But I can't! At least not for the past several weeks. And at least not lately in my marriage.

Over the past month or so, we've had several minor "setbacks" that have come up, and I have not dealt with them gracefully. Not one bit. In everything, I was constantly looking for someone to blame...someone to hold accountable for all the things that have gone wrong lately. Guess who got the brunt of it? If you guessed my husband, you're right!

Now, before you try this at home, let me just tell you, it does nothing to improve one's marriage. It does, however, cause the male person in the marriage to become withdrawn, in addition to a host of other undesirable results.

I started thinking about all of this, and how a lot of things were definitely NOT going my way one day after a pretty big fight. The biggest thing for me was the blame aspect. I was being critical. Nothing was good enough. Even something as simple as my husband's run to the grocery store elicited a negative response from me (i.e. "I meant fresh parsley...not dry").

Back to the Scripture. I was not "enjoying enviable happiness". I was not feeling particularly "spiritually prosperous". I wasn't seeing much "life-joy" or "satisfaction in God's favor and salvation" for that matter. I was neither making peace nor maintaining it. It would stand to reason that those who do the opposite of making and maintaining peace- sowing discord, and fighting their husband every step of the way- would get the opposite of what this Scripture promises. Just some of the negative things you would reap (if you were brave enough to try this yourself- like I was) are unhappiness, spiritual lack, misery, and dissatisfaction...just to name some of the results of this choice.

However (oh, how I love "however"), in God's infinite grace, He allowed me to see the error of my ways, and I was able to repent (just as you can if you happen to relate to this post even a tiny little bit). 1 John 1:9 (one of my faves) says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." For me, I know that total success in this area may not be an overnight thing, but I just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other. That's the beauty of it though. God will meet me wherever I'm at, as long as I'm willing to yield to Him! (And believe me, I'm more than willing to get away from this negative attitude!)

What can you do if you happen to be in a similar situation? Just take one step at a time! Commit to being a peacemaker in your marriage first of all. Purpose to let your response be one of peace...not everything has to go "your way" or even the way you are used to it being. Watch your tone, and communicate to your spouse that you believe their intentions to be good even if they do something unexpected.

So, from now on, I am a peacemaker! I hesitated to share my experience, being that my blog is called "Happy Christian Home" and all. I was certainly doing nothing to live up to that title! But I know you ladies might be able to relate, and maybe just maybe somebody will be helped by my admission.

So...what steps do you take in your marriage to be a "maker and maintainer of peace"? Feel free to share in the comments!

Linking up for Marriage Mondays at Come Have a Peace 

Putting the Word First

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" Matthew 6:33

Well, it doesn't get more simple than that, does it?

Seek Him first.

Today, I was motivated (in part due to this post by Ashley at AP Freewriting 101) to get up and before anything else, read my Bible and pray.

So often, it's get up, check my email, read all the new blog posts, check Facebook and otherwise find ways to dawdle online, and THEN read my Bible and pray, hoping that the children sleep just a little bit longer.

Sometimes they wake up in the middle of making my "blog rounds". My day ends up chaotic and usually pretty unproductive.

On the other hand, if I spend that time in the Word and in prayer first thing, it gets that upward momentum going in my day. I am more positive. I am filled. I have something to draw on for strength, for giving into other people's lives (starting of course with my sweet children).

It's not about legalism. My pastor often says "God is not trying to get something from you; He is trying to get something TO you". How true that is. I even had to remind myself of that this morning as I was trying to breeze through my devotional time...anxious to get to the part when "I get to talk". (You know what I mean, right?) But something in me said "slow down, let God speak to you through His Word". And speak He did.

If we will just take the time to sit and listen and HEAR from Him before we get our minds all clouded up with...whatever, He will give us such clarity for the day ahead. For the week ahead. For our husband, for our children, for our homes and whatever else that concerns us. He will also help us weed out those things that DON'T concern us.

I know it works. God's Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). I encourage you to seek Him first at your next opportunity.

What steps can you take to make sure you meet with Him first thing in the morning?

Let me know how it goes!

Servant Motherhood

Are you washing these feet?

Warning: Proceed with caution if you are the squeamish kind, okay? :)

Today I saw probably the fifth pair of poopy underwear in about a week. (You mamas that have been through potty training your little ones will know what I'm talking about).

I seriously had a "pause and think on that moment" during this time, and I believe God dealt with me about my attitude toward cleaning up the boy child's poo...when I know very well that he knows how to put it in the potty.

It was not pretty. (Poop seldom is). Okay, I'm talking about my initial response. It may have involved shouting (certainly not the "hallelujah" kind). It also may have involved me making some kind of ungodly growling sort of sound that hurt my throat. Okay, it did. I'm not proud to admit that I was really angry about this latest "accident".

To make matters worse, after the underwear was removed from the child, he continued to do the "potty dance", and refused to get on the potty to finish what he started.

(More anger).

After reassuring him that it was okay, and I was going to be there with him (I think he's a little bit afraid of going number two in the potty) he finally finished. I cleaned him up and sent him on his way.

As I was angrily cleaning up the mess, and washing the poop stained underwear, I continued complaining and expressing disgust.

It was at this moment that I was reminded of how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. And if their desert is anything like ours in Arizona, it was nasty dirty man feet. Sweaty, stinky. Filthy. In these parts, it doesn't take much to get dirty feet in the summertime- and we have pavement. I can't imagine what ones feet would look like at the end of a sweaty, stinky day in the hot sun complete with natural desert landscaping.

God showed me a picture of how Jesus didn't complain about this act of servant hood. He didn't let His own natural reaction to this menial task stand in the way of showing humility to His followers. In fact, He practically had to force one of the disciples to let Him wash his feet. He humbled Himself.

Jesus is better than me. And though cleaning poopy underwear could be only slightly more foul than washing man feet after the end of a sweltering day spent in sandals in the desert, His act of quiet, humble service to His disciples shows me how I should be as a mother. For the first time I received God's grace for this task and was able to smile contentedly while doing something I personally find repulsive.

Yesterday, I saw a definition of a servant of the Lord while reading Isaiah 54:17 in the Amplified. "Those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced". Jesus is the Ultimate Servant. Anything I could possibly do pales dramatically in comparison to all that He has done for us. And isn't that reflection of one "in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced" what we want to show our children?

Pregnancy Series: Guarding Your Heart During Pregnancy

You may be wondering why I'm doing a series on pregnancy. Well, I'm not pregnant, and I'm not  "trying", but I do have several friends that are expecting, and I have been inspired to put some of my thoughts together regarding pregnancy, and share them with you and anyone else that might happen upon my blog. Becoming pregnant four years ago was such a life-altering thing for me, that I can only imagine that other women have similar experiences. Some people seem to coast through pregnancy with nary a complaint or question, and if you're one of them, I think that's great! But for the others, this series will touch on some things that I found to be helpful, and other things that I discovered along the way during my combined total of a year and a half of being pregnant. (I know, small change for moms with several children...but hopefully my experience can be useful to somebody!)

This is me 8 months pregnant.  Don't laugh! My sister threw a lu'au-themed baby shower for me.  Gotta love the hula skirt. So humiliating! Lol. :)

First of all, whether you are newly pregnant or just weeks (or days!) away from becoming a mommy, congratulations! What a joyous time in your life. A baby is such a blessing, and if you are like me, you will be amazed at how your life will change in a multitude of wonderful ways once you become a mom! But pregnancy can also be a time of uncertainty, a time when perhaps you don't always feel so great. One thing is certain, those nine months or so usually don't happen exactly the way you expect! Rest assured, it's very normal to sometimes feel ambivalent about your "status". That being said, I want to start this series with something that doesn't only have to do with pregnancy: your thought life!

Cast Out Those Fears
It is so important to stay focused on the right things during pregnancy. Pregnancy is an exciting, wonderful time of expectation and hope, but it can also be a time of great fear. A new life is being created in your body (of all places) and you don't have a lot of control over what's happening. The Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." God has indeed given that soundness of mind to us, but we must cultivate it, and embrace those thoughts and feelings that make for positivity in our thought life, as well as in our hearts. Whether you're fearful about the upcoming birth of your child, or preoccupied with "what if's" about your baby's health, or overwhelmed by anxiety caused by those wild and wacky hormones, you have the power to direct your thoughts and have peace.

Guard Your Heart
I would like to point out that in Proverbs 4:23 the Bible says "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." (NLT) Whenever I think of that Scripture, I immediately think about what we might let into our "airspace". What are you watching on TV? What are you reading about? Are you allowing well-meaning friends and family members to tell you all about their horrific pregnancy and childbirth experiences? It does seem like having a bulging belly just invites all kinds of random people to share their experiences with you. I remember getting home after my baby shower for my son...I was just weeks away from my due date, and my mother in law was helping us unload gifts from our vehicle. An older neighbor lady came up to us and (why, oh, why?) started to tell us (within my earshot) in detail how she lost her first baby shortly after birth. My wonderful mother in law immediately stopped her and said something like, "I'm very sorry for your loss, but we only want to share positive experiences right now". I can't tell whether she may have been offended by what my mother in law said, but I am thankful that she was there to intervene. Not everyone is going to be sensitive about your situation, so sometimes you just need to cover your ears and say "la la la la la!" (I know, super mature, right?) or have your husband or someone else step in and redirect the conversation. Of course, you can always politely change the subject yourself if you think it might be headed someplace you'd rather not go.

Think on these Things
What can you do if you are bombarded by negativity during your pregnancy? Philippians 4:8 says "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." Martin Luther was credited with the saying "You can't stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop it from building a nest in your hair". I love that quote! You have the power to keep things from taking root in your mind and heart. But it's important to replace negative thoughts with faith-filled thoughts. The internet is a great place to read positive and empowering birth stories. Here's one good site I know of. It's also a good idea to say a confession like this one here to keep your mind stayed on God's desire for you and your baby. Meditate on Scriptures that speak to your current situation. God will bring peace to you, and that will do so much for your daily and long term well-being.

A Few More Helpful Scriptures
"All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]." Proverbs 15:15 Amplified

"A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones." Proverbs 14:30 Amplified

"For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." Jeremiah 29:11 Amplified

Quietly Supportive = Very Helpful!

We all know the Word says that wives are to be a helper to their husbands. But what does that look like in action? We can serve our husbands by doing chores around the house, helping him promote his business, cooking great meals. But sometimes it's the things that we don't do that can help him in ways we never imagined. 

Think about the last time you and your family were in a tough spot; whether it was financial, problems with the in-laws, a conflict with your husband's job- whatever. Examine your attitude. Were you quietly confident in your husband to work it out in his own way; or did you get irritated and insist that he take your suggestion? 

I know I've been there! But guess what? There is so much more peace when I just zip my lips and let him work it out- whatever "it" may be. He, as a man, appreciates it so much more when I just flow with him and trust his ability. It's an easy way to show respect and submission (yes, that!) that speaks volumes of your love for your husband.  

Laundry, Laundry Everywhere

I used to have a major issue keeping up with the laundry in my life.  See, when I was single, I think I had about one load per week...maybe two!  Then my husband moved in (yes, he was my husband before he moved in).  That man has more clothes than any person should be allowed to have!  

Well, I got pregnant pretty soon after we were married, and never quite adjusted to the extra items to wash on a regular basis due to working full time and not having any energy left over to devote to keeping up the laundry.  

Then came baby!  Whew, that's a lot of little tiny stuff to wash!  I was kind of hit and miss with baby's stuff, I would wash it, but then pull his stuff out of the dryer or the basket in the corner of the room.  Eventually, I got into the swing of things and would diligently wash, dry, fold and put away his clothes.  That made life so much easier.  Anyone who has had a baby knows just how aggravating it can be to locate two matching itty-bitty socks mixed into a pile of other similarly colored itty-bitty items!  I can think of so many things I'd rather do. 

Well, fast forward a couple of years, and along came baby number two.  I still wasn't really "in tune" with our soiled clothing to the point of it being second nature to wash, dry, fold and put away in one fell swoop.  So, new baby, with all her extra laundry (from all the spitting up- see here for more on that)  was certainly a motivating factor for me to finally get it together. 

Actually more recently, it's been easier for me to keep up with it.  I've started making a daily list of chores to do, and what laundry to do when.  I also came across Fly Lady's amazing site in recent months and that has been a big help too.  Her mantra concerning laundry?  "A load a day keeps the CHAOS away"!  How true that is!  

For me, it's really been a change in attitude or perspective.  I've always been big about procrastination, and I think it's just a dread thing for me when I think about laundry or some other chore that needs to be done.  I build it up in my mind as something terrible and time consuming, but it's so so simple when I get down to actually doing it (a little everyday).  It's really rewarding to look into a drawer and see clean clothing neatly put away, ready for my family to wear as needed. 

Now I'm certainly not perfect about it yet, but I'm really much happier about my approach to laundering our family's clothing and towels and bedding...I like having clean items on hand and knowing where to find it quickly without having to dig for it!  It may not seem like that big of a deal, but it really is a huge step to achieving more order in your day and ultimately your life.  Don't let the chaos that is your hamper control your life any longer!  You'll be so glad when you finally realize that it's not as overwhelming as it appears to be to get a handle on it! 

Every Day Counts!

How do you track spiritual growth? Is it by how happy you feel? Is it by how calm you act toward your family members? Is it by how frequently you attend church?

I saw a startling reflection of my growth just the other day. My method of studying the Word includes keeping track of the days that I spend time reading my Bible and praying. I have a printout of a Bible reading plan that has dates and a corresponding passage of Scripture to read. Each day that I read my Bible, I put a circle around the date on the page. Then if I complete that day's recommended reading, I cross off that Scripture reference on the sheet.

This is the second year that I have done this. And it really helps me to realize just how much of my life I spend reading God's Word. I actually took the time the other day to tally up how much I had read, and frankly I was shocked. I knew that I had missed a day here and there, but looking at the numbers on the page was a reality check for me. I know the following may be too painstaking for some, but I added up the number of days I had read my Bible versus the number of days in the period of time from January 1st to June 30th (yes, it's the middle of the year now, yikes!) and calculated the percentage of days that I had actually spent.

Well dear reader, it added up to all of sixty percent! I seriously had to re-calculate just to make sure I was getting it right. It came out the same both times.

I don't share this to be legalistic, or to shame myself or anyone else who may spend the same amount of time (or less) reading the Word.

Romans 8:1 says "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."

That is me, I am in Christ Jesus, and I suspect you are too, if you are reading this. I share this because I can see a correlation between the number of days I spend reading the Word and in prayer and the number of "better" days I have with my husband, children and other loved ones. A better day for me is one in which I walk in the Spirit, and have that "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control." (Galatians 5:22-23)

Those qualities apply to every area of my life...be it my relationship with my husband, my children, my duties around the house, my commitments outside the home...whatever. I perform much better, feel much better, act much better, relate much better, the more time I spend in communion with God and His Word. It really does make a difference! And it is so important for us to set spiritual goals for ourselves.

What are your Bible reading goals? And how do you measure your progress?

Create a Peaceful Day

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Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like you're stuck in a whirlwind? I know I have! With little ones around (and big ones too, I'm sure!), it's easy to start the day that way, and stay there. Here are a few tips to avoid a crazy day, and have a great day filled with peace and order instead!

1. Get up before everyone else! This way, at least you are sure to have some time to yourself! Fix yourself a cup of tea or coffee and ease into your day instead of hitting the ground running. 
2. Spend some time with your husband before he's off to work. Oftentimes this is the only time of the day when it's just you two, and you don't have to compete with the television or your little ones to get a word in. Better yet, have a devotional time with him. Pray for each other's day to go smoothly. If for whatever reason you can't connect with your husband over a spiritual discussion, well...just spend time with him, have that cup of coffee or breakfast together and talk about the day ahead. For many at home moms, this might be the only grown up conversation you get that day- so take advantage of it!
3. Spend time with God! Take at least a few moments every day to read your Bible and pray. Some days it might have to be "condensed" because you hear the baby crying in the other room, but at least you had some time! Ideally it should be done at the same time and place everyday, but sometimes you just need to be flexible and take whatever time you can get. Some days that may mean praying in the shower, but that is certainly more condusive to you having tranquility in your day, than not praying at all. To make it even easier, print out a Bible reading plan like the one here and keep it in your Bible, or use a Bible plan app. 
4. Plan your days ahead of time. In my house, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays mean vacuum days. Now, I'm not going to add to my stress and commit to doing it every day (though sometimes it may need it!) but at least I know that a "vacuum day" is coming up, and I don't have to think about it. Likewise, you can plan which days to do laundry and other chores. Keep a list on your computer of which tasks are done each day, that way you know that each thing will get the attention it needs...eventually. 
5. Take a shower and get dressed- even if you aren't going anywhere and nobody (but your babies) will see you! This can be a struggle for a stay at home mom, but it really makes a big difference in your attitude and approach to your day. You will feel much better, and get that positive momentum going for your day.

Obviously, there are probably many other things you can do to add to your peace throughout the day, but this is just a start!

What do you do to create calm in your day? Share in a comment!

A Soft Answer-How My Peaceful Response Matters in My Home

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1

This afternoon I noticed my son had taken his snack from earlier, crushed it up into a bazillion pieces and scattered it all over the living room floor. Admittedly, my first reaction was to launch into the heated lecture. I mean, really...how many times DO I need to tell him not to do that? Well (miraculously), I paused and began to calmly explain why we don't do that; and started to help him pick up the pieces.

That went over much better than all of my yelling ever would have. No hurt feelings, nobody digging his heels in at my insistence to clean up the mess. It's a much easier (and more effective way) to get what I want.

The Word of God is so clear on instructions for dealing with other people (it even applies to little people!) The Strong's Concordance describes "wrath" in the context of this Scripture as "poison". Wrath can poison the atmosphere of our homes. Certainly life with young children can be provoking, but when we answer softly, we are not only fending off the poison that can so easily infiltrate our environment, but also teaching our children a valuable lesson.

What Biblical lessons has motherhood taught you lately?