Chapter 5 - "My Desire for Curb Appeal"
Do we value our husbands and homes enough to offer curb appeal? What do you do to make yourself presentable for your husband? What do you do to make your home a inviting and relaxing safe haven for your family?
I will admit, this was a tough chapter for me. I do value my husband, but do I show it? My house? Well, let's just say I haven't valued it enough. It's not my ideal house - it lacks storage, it doesn't have character. When I read The Good Wife's Guide the first time, I realized I need to change my attitude about it. This is the home that God has blessed me with in this current season of life. It's up to me to make it a home for my family.
This quote in the book really spoke to me: "From the moment he steps through the door, I want our house to feel like a home. I want life inside that door to be a haven of comfort and rest. And I want my husband to know I'm his help-meet.... This curb appeal not only boosts the beauty of our relationship, it signals the pride of ownership we share, and tells him that he's valued in our home."
I'm not a stay at home mom so I thought a lot of this chapter wasn't for me. I was wrong. I can still do things to create curb appeal. Since I work full-time, I would say I am usually presentable physically when I come home. Could I do a better job? Absolutely! Instead of pulling my hair back, I could take the time to fix it. Make sure I don't forget to shave my legs? Yep! But more importantly, I need to make sure I leave the troubles of the day back at the office. Coming home in an irritable mood does not make my husband or my children feel welcome.
When I really started thinking about personal curb appeal, this verse kept coming to mind:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
We are God's temple. We need to take care of our bodies and make them into the beautiful temples that they should be - inside and out. So first and foremost, we should do it for God. Then for our husbands. We also want to show him that we value him enough to take care of the girl he fell in love with years ago.
I encourage you to look back at this chapter and really reflect on the things Darlene does to make herself and her home presentable. I loved it when she said "We all love to come home to a clean and tidy house, but let's not forget that husbands also appreciate a clean and tidy wife."
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
Praise and Honor While You Work
As we plan out our days, imagine if we always planned to make it all about Jesus. Everything on our to-do list glorified Him. Do you think we could get all of our tasks and more accomplished? I think so. If what we do is pleasing and honorable to God, then He is going to bless our efforts. If the intentions in our hearts are right and pure, God is going to be there to help us through our day.
Philippians 4:8 NIV
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Darlene has some great printables on her website for time management and home management. I encourage you to hop on over there and take a look.
http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/search/label/Printables
I also found this printable over at Intentional By Grace that helps you plan out your day with your priorities in mind.
http://intentionalbygrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Make-It-Impossible-To-Not-Think-About-God-Printable1.jpg
If our attitude about our everyday tasks are about doing them joyfully to please our heavenly father, then how can we go wrong?
“What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and work flow.” -Martin Luther
Philippians 4:8 NIV
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Darlene has some great printables on her website for time management and home management. I encourage you to hop on over there and take a look.
http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/search/label/Printables
I also found this printable over at Intentional By Grace that helps you plan out your day with your priorities in mind.
http://intentionalbygrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Make-It-Impossible-To-Not-Think-About-God-Printable1.jpg
If our attitude about our everyday tasks are about doing them joyfully to please our heavenly father, then how can we go wrong?
“What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and work flow.” -Martin Luther
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Under Pressure
Proverbs 6:6-8 NIV
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its foot at harvest.
Darlene writes "There are two kinds of women in this world, one who much like the ant plans wisely, and one who flies by the seat of her pants hoping that her cards will fall into place." In today's fast-paced society, most days I feel like I just have to keep up and roll with the punches. And then by the end of the day, I am frazzled and feel like I spent most of the day playing catch up. It's just survival mode, isn't it? But the days I actually take the time to make a plan and stick to my plan... well, those are the days I feel accomplishment and satisfaction. Why don't I always make a plan? Who knows! But taking time to reflect on the above verse and this next one makes me realize God wants us to be prepared and work efficiently and effectively.
Proverbs 21:5 NIV
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
How can we be better prepared for each day? A simple to-do list first thing in the morning can be highly effective. There is no need to have an elaborate day planner to accomplish this. And with all of the technology at our fingertips, our to-do list can be on our phone, tablet, computer or just good old-fashioned notebook paper. Whatever works best for your situation. We just have to make sure that whatever we use, it will be something we will want to continue using in order to make a difference in our days. It takes the average person 21 days to make something a habit. Can we challenge ourselves to make a plan everyday for 21 days? And for those that already do this, share some tips with us!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
A Well Balanced... Life
Chapter 4 - "The Good Wife's Guide"
We all know about the importance of eating a well balanced diet. Making sure we eat from each food group helps us get all of the nutrients our bodies need to be at our optimum performance.
The same goes for our spiritual and day to day living. We should make it our goal "to be moderate in all things so that we're living a balanced life." We must balance work with rest and play.
Being a good wife and/or mother takes effort and determination. And it takes sacrifice. The road is not always easy but each role we fulfill is most definitely a gift from God. And when we look at it as such, we will make it our priority and want to invest our time and energy into doing these roles well.
Darlene writes "the bottom line is that change begins in the heart where a battle is constantly taking place. Our flesh wrestles with our spirit as it attempts to get its own way. Meanwhile the Spirit directs us to value God and our family, to prioritize them above everything else, and to avoid the tendency we have to be lazy."
The first section of Chapter 4 ends with 1 Peter 5:8. When I was studying this verse, I found this version in The Message and really liked it. Satan wants to catch us napping, with our guard down. When we are not diligent in our daily living, we are like sitting ducks waiting for the roaring lion to pounce on us.
1 Peter 5:8 MSG
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up.
We all know about the importance of eating a well balanced diet. Making sure we eat from each food group helps us get all of the nutrients our bodies need to be at our optimum performance.
The same goes for our spiritual and day to day living. We should make it our goal "to be moderate in all things so that we're living a balanced life." We must balance work with rest and play.
Being a good wife and/or mother takes effort and determination. And it takes sacrifice. The road is not always easy but each role we fulfill is most definitely a gift from God. And when we look at it as such, we will make it our priority and want to invest our time and energy into doing these roles well.
Darlene writes "the bottom line is that change begins in the heart where a battle is constantly taking place. Our flesh wrestles with our spirit as it attempts to get its own way. Meanwhile the Spirit directs us to value God and our family, to prioritize them above everything else, and to avoid the tendency we have to be lazy."
The first section of Chapter 4 ends with 1 Peter 5:8. When I was studying this verse, I found this version in The Message and really liked it. Satan wants to catch us napping, with our guard down. When we are not diligent in our daily living, we are like sitting ducks waiting for the roaring lion to pounce on us.
1 Peter 5:8 MSG
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Wisdom to Know the Difference
Wisdom. We need it for discernment, for making important decisions and for prioritizing our crazy busy lives. God freely gives us wisdom if we have our hearts right and genuinely ask for it.
James 1:5 NLT
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
Spending time with God in prayer, reading the Bible and just having quiet time opens our hearts and minds to receive His wisdom. In order to set our priorities, we need to use this wisdom to help us decide what needs to stay and what needs to go. Darlene says "those things you need to cut should include physical junk (excess) as well as time wasters. Oh man, is my life cluttered with both!
If we self sacrifice for a "cause," we use wisdom to help us determine the cause. "We need to decide once and for all what things are important to us and then set our priorities wisely."
Even though our ultimate priorities might be the same, our day to day priorities will look different from each other. We are all in different seasons of our lives so we won't be the same across the board. A mother with a new baby will have much different priorities than a wife with grown kids out of the home.
So now is a time to do some real soul searching. Look deep inside and talk with God about what's in your heart. Darlene poses some tough questions at the end of Chapter 3. I encourage you to look over these again and really reflect on them. Spend time with God and ask for His wisdom concerning these questions. We all want to be wise and live accordingly. We just have to make it our priority.
Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
James 1:5 NLT
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
Spending time with God in prayer, reading the Bible and just having quiet time opens our hearts and minds to receive His wisdom. In order to set our priorities, we need to use this wisdom to help us decide what needs to stay and what needs to go. Darlene says "those things you need to cut should include physical junk (excess) as well as time wasters. Oh man, is my life cluttered with both!
If we self sacrifice for a "cause," we use wisdom to help us determine the cause. "We need to decide once and for all what things are important to us and then set our priorities wisely."
Even though our ultimate priorities might be the same, our day to day priorities will look different from each other. We are all in different seasons of our lives so we won't be the same across the board. A mother with a new baby will have much different priorities than a wife with grown kids out of the home.
So now is a time to do some real soul searching. Look deep inside and talk with God about what's in your heart. Darlene poses some tough questions at the end of Chapter 3. I encourage you to look over these again and really reflect on them. Spend time with God and ask for His wisdom concerning these questions. We all want to be wise and live accordingly. We just have to make it our priority.
Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Discipline needs self-sacrifice...
Proverbs 19:20-21 NIV
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
We have to have a heart change or nothing will change. Discipline without self-sacrifice will just have us spinning our wheels back to where we started.
"Disciple in 'teaching and training yourself'" and self-sacrifice is "giving up our interests and desires for a cause.". In order to be changed and disciplined in an area of our lives, we must "give up" ourselves to be diligent in re-training our bodies and minds.
How bad do you want to change? Do you know what God wants to change in you? Pray and let Him work in your heart and transform you.
Romans 12:1-2 NLT
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
We have to have a heart change or nothing will change. Discipline without self-sacrifice will just have us spinning our wheels back to where we started.
"Disciple in 'teaching and training yourself'" and self-sacrifice is "giving up our interests and desires for a cause.". In order to be changed and disciplined in an area of our lives, we must "give up" ourselves to be diligent in re-training our bodies and minds.
How bad do you want to change? Do you know what God wants to change in you? Pray and let Him work in your heart and transform you.
Romans 12:1-2 NLT
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
"Group Your Life Inventory"
"Where you are today does not dictate where you will be tomorrow." Oh, thank you Lord! There is hope and encouragement - to keep plugging on and to keep striving to be more like Jesus.
We've seen the prayer before: "God grant me the serenity to..." Darlene uses this prayer to help us put our to-do lists in each category.
In the end, if we decide that our faith and family are our top two priorities, then we need to make our to-do lists reflect that. And pray to God to keep us focused on these things first above all else. If we have as our motive our top priorities, then the important things will get done.
Here are some verses to reflect on today and to use for our SOAP study:
Proverbs 16:2-3 NIV
All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
Matthew 6:33 NLT
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
So our to-do lists from now on need to have a new look. Need some help prioritizing your day? Check out these printable calendars:
http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/2013/01/printable-calendars-february-to-june.html
http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/2012/05/how-to-stay-focused-and-free-printable.html
http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/2012/04/free-printable-daily-chore-chart.html
We've seen the prayer before: "God grant me the serenity to..." Darlene uses this prayer to help us put our to-do lists in each category.
- The things I cannot change.
- The things I can.
- The wisdom to know the difference.
In the end, if we decide that our faith and family are our top two priorities, then we need to make our to-do lists reflect that. And pray to God to keep us focused on these things first above all else. If we have as our motive our top priorities, then the important things will get done.
Here are some verses to reflect on today and to use for our SOAP study:
Proverbs 16:2-3 NIV
All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
Matthew 6:33 NLT
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
So our to-do lists from now on need to have a new look. Need some help prioritizing your day? Check out these printable calendars:
http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/2013/01/printable-calendars-february-to-june.html
http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/2012/05/how-to-stay-focused-and-free-printable.html
http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/2012/04/free-printable-daily-chore-chart.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)