As a Christian woman, trained as a Home Economist, I never expected to be single past my mid-twenties. However, the Lord had a much different plan for me and has gently matured my attitude toward singleness, as well as the purpose of marriage. I know now that I should marry only if our united lives would be more effective for the Lord than either of us are in our single state.
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Why is your child considering college? Is it simply the next step on the academic ladder or has God placed a vision for how acquiring a college degree will provide preparation for God’s plan for his or her life? As you read this post may I encourage you to make two “tip” lists—one for you and one for your child. Or better yet, have your child make his or her own list.
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Summer is my favorite season of the year with one exception—too much skin is exposed. While lightening the color depth and fabric weight for spring and summer garments, at the same time the fashion industry tends to minimize the amount of fabric that they contain. As a Christian who desires to please your heavenly Father, you have the challenge of selecting clothing that brings glory to Him (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). So, you are faced with a dilemma—must fashion and faith be in conflict? If you wholeheartedly embrace biblical standards of modesty, must you eliminate from your wardrobe anything fashionable? Let’s take a look at what Scripture teaches.
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Chicken is the mainstay of summer cuisine and the backbone of the economical kitchen (Proverbs 31:27). Chicken is usually the most inexpensive of all meat cuts and is useful down to the bones! Consider what you can do with one whole bird (the least expensive way to purchase chicken).
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Last week I posed the question, “What would be your response if you carefully selected a gift and presented it to someone dear only to have him or her leave it wrapped?” I pray that you were able to meditate upon the suggested principles along with the definitions of the Spiritual Gifts. This week let’s expand our study as we consider the question, “What is the benefit of prayerfully using your Spiritual Gifts to their maximum potential?”
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What would be your response if you carefully selected a gift and presented it to someone dear only to have him or her leave it wrapped? A myriad of emotions undoubtedly flood your mind as you consider such an ungrateful response on the part of the recipient. Putting the question in the context of Spiritual Gifts is there a possibility that you might be neglecting to unwrap the ones our Lord graciously custom selected for you? Let’s identify some principles that will help in identifying and using your Spiritual Gifts to glorify their Giver, your heavenly Father.
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It’s Mother’s Day, and the pastor announces the Scripture topic for his sermon: The Incredible Search . . . The Quest for Becoming a Woman Who Pleases God Begins in Your Home. Inwardly you groan. Oh, great. I am going to leave today’s service on another guilt trip rather than encouraged and edified. Perhaps I can plan my week’s menus or work on my Bible study while appearing to look interested.
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What is your annual budget for cleaning supplies? Even with the help of coupons or purchasing the products at a warehouse club, the total cost by the end of the year can be hefty. One way to save money is to use resources already found in your pantry or medicine cabinet and make them do double duty as cleaning agents. This blog post was created to help you identify which products can replace some of the pricey name-brand products. The natural products are also safer and healthier to use.
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My mother was the original Martha Stewart! Our home was always a special blend of comfort and cleanliness. She firmly believed the statement that “cleanliness is next to godliness!” As an only child I “shadowed” her daily as she made our home a haven of order and peacefulness that was a refuge from worldly chaos and disorder. When her arthritic condition placed perimeters around the tasks she could perform I was able to assume many of the household responsibilities. Entering college as a Home Economics/Family and Consumer Science major I then learned the management strategies that aligned with my existing skills.
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When I lived in Southern California I enjoyed visiting a lusciously landscaped outdoor health spa. I only visited it in the summer when the plants were at their peak of their beauty and the gentle sunshine created the perfect climatic conditions. I always returned home refreshed and revitalized. Though I recall with joy those few leisurely days they were an exception to my normal lifestyle. Knowing how refreshed I returned from the spa days I seek to daily revitalize myself in my home by creating a spiritual health spa. It is simple and low budget!
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Does adrenalin or spiritual vitality propel your household management?Do you plan your tasks so they can be done “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40) or do you rely on adrenalin to motivate your attention to them?
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The neighborhood cat came for her usual visit on the evening my friend and I returned from a brief San Diego vacation. As she bounded through the front door, rather than making her normal fast trip to the kitchen, she paused at the tea cart, placed both front paws on the serving tray, and began to gently bat the lace runner. Unusual behavior, I mused, until I realized that the lace was moving. The cat had discovered that a mouse was hiding on the tray. It had managed to sneak into the house as we were unloading luggage.
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It’s spring and the time our homes frequently receive a thorough cleaning. We know that the cleaning process separates the dirt from the item being cleaned and results in a sense of renewal.As we use cleaning routines in our homes to sanitize them, it is helpful to multitask and use the time for personal spiritual cleansing. First John 1:9 teaches, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” As we become proficient in our cleaning routines, let’s direct our minds to the spiritual cleaning we may need to accomplish rather than allowing them to dwell in mental emptiness. This intentional action allows us to honor our Lord in even the most mundane tasks (Colossians 3:16-17).
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Aunt Joan isn’t attending the family reunion this summer because last year she was offended by a remark John made about her “famous deviled eggs.” After moving to her son-in-law and daughter’s home and funding the construction of her own granny flat Ellen moved out four years later. The root cause of both scenarios? The failure to grant the principle of unending forgiveness taught in Matthew 18:21-35 and Luke 17:3-4.
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How beautiful is your tongue - or have you never really considered your tongue in terms of its attractiveness? You normally don’t check it in the mirror multiple times during the day, go on shopping trips for it, schedule appointments for it at the tongue beautician, or purchase cosmetics for it. Yet, it is the tongue, more than the shape of your face or the dimensions of your figure or your theological knowledge, which determines your beauty.
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It’s spring!! The trees are budding, the grass is greening, flowers are bursting forth with color, and allergies are afflicting those who are sensitive to pollen. Several years ago, as a new Texas resident, I experienced allergies for the first time. I did not care for them but I do love spring and summer! However, each season has its beauty and challenges just as the seasons of mentoring possess unique qualities. Last month I shared with you the biblical mentoring strategies outlined in Titus 2:3-5 and encouraged you to view your home as your primary venue. The Titus passage provides the biblical foundation for understanding the mentoring relationship. The book of Ruth presents us with a real life example of how mentoring should work. This week I am excited to share with you the seasons of mentoring.
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Do you dream of your living space whether a dorm room or a large home being a clutter-free, pleasant environment but simply do not know where to begin? If so, then The Everyday Homemaker’s Blog Posts are just what you need to move the dream from fantasy to reality!
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Do you feel that if you are a stay-at-home Mom your ministry opportunities are severely limited? I am excited to share with you that by opening your front door and welcoming a mentoree you can fulfill one of the most important ministry assignments given to women—the Titus 2:3-5 directive!
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February ushers in the commencement of the holiday season focused on expressing love. Billed as the “season of love” the days spanning February 1 to February 14 can be delightful or disappointing.Statistics suggest that when disappointment settles in Satan’s fiery dart of discouragement embeds itself in our hearts.Choosing to detonate discouragement during the “season for love” poises us for a Christ-centered celebration!
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The silence deepened in the already attentive class as the young widow, with tears gently flowing down her cheeks, raised her hand and asked if she might share a thought with the students. A native of West Africa, she traveled from her homeland to pursue professional training as a Home Economics teacher so she could support her elementary-aged son. Her youngest brother, comparable in age to her son, also made the journey with them. She was the guardian of both boys.
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