The Winds of Conviction March 31, 2008

Good Morning Metro Moms! If you have missed our discussion on Domesticity the past couple of weeks, we would like to encourage you to take some time to catch up. It’s amazing how when the Holy Spirit hones in on an area of correction in our lives that we hear about it everywhere we go. The winds of conviction are certainly blowing through our church. This morning at Metro’s celebration service Benny Phillips preached from Matthew 24 on three of Jesus’ parables: The Faithful Servant, The Ten Virgins and The Talents. We are learning so much about Nominalism and its effect on our church and the church at large. Benny taught that this passage is clear that there will be a Day of Reckoning where we will have to give an account on three specific things:

• Our Faithfulness

• Our Preparedness

• Our Fruitfulness

It was a powerful exhortation, that left many of us on our knees in repentance. If you missed the message click here and follow the link under “Recent Messages. Be ready for the Winds of Conviction. What a gift of the Holy Spirit when our hearts are laid bare by the Word of God, for this is when change begins.

This week we are going to continue talking about our role in the home, but with more practical applications as to how we can change. What will it take to assure change in my life? I mentioned that I stay busy in my home doing the things that I want to do, rather than doing what is most important. As a way of being accountable, I confessed to my husband my lack of faithfulness in this area. I am committing to get my housework completed before I sit down to check my e-mails and read blogs. This has become a huge time waster for me, keeping me from tending to the needs of my family. As Benny said this morning, ‘We know not the hour when the Master will return.” I want to be found like the five virgins who had completed all they were supposed to do and were prepared when the Bridegroom was delayed. Instead of trying to make up for the time lost because of my unfaithfulness like the other five virgins. I have hope because Christ has given me a Helper – The Holy Spirit that lives within me!

Father, thank You for Your patience towards me. You lovingly compel me to change and then, help me to not forget. Thank You for the many ways You are speaking the same word over and over, so that I don’t miss it. May I no longer excuse my laziness and irresponsibility, but see the importance of doing what You are asking of me. Only eternity will tell how I have done. I pray that You will help me to serve my husband, family and church with a diligence and passion that is sincere and rightly motivated. I need You to accomplish this. Thank You for the gift of conviction, for once I confess my sin to You – I have hope for change, because You have made a way through the Cross of Christ, and it is in His Name that I pray, Amen!

One To Post On Your Bathroom Mirror! March 28, 2008

“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.”

– Helen Keller

Not An Option! March 27, 2008

It seems that for most of the contributing writers of this blog, we are all facing a similar “one thing” to pursue;  that is doing what we should be doing with our time rather than what we want to do with our time.

So now that we’ve confessed our need, is that it?  Is confession and the realization of our need to change sufficient to bring about the change we realize God is after?  Absolutely not!  Confession is just the beginning of mortifying a pattern of ongoing sin.  I have battled laziness all my life.  As I’ve grown older I just get better at justifying why I do what I do.  What will it take to offset this cycle?  Radical measures to be sure.   I must realize that this sin is what required Christ to suffer and die on the Cross.  I must see that this sin brings God great sorrow.  And I must hate this sin because of the previous two reasons!

This is a faithful reminder to talk to someone about your desire to change in this area.  Make a list of steps that are obtainable and make sure that you do them.  And most of all commit your ways to the Lord;  He is the only one who is able to change our hearts as we yield to the Holy  Spirit’s conviction.

We would love to hear from you, and what the ONE THING is that God is having you mortify.  Posting a comment on this blog is a sure way to invite the input of others – are you ready for that?  We pray so!  May we all be ready to open our lives in such a way that makes change a certainty rather than an option.

My “To Do” List March 26, 2008

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord…”  Jeremiah 29:11a
This morning in my quiet time, I sensed the Lord have me hold up my calendar to Him, allowing Him to fill in on my schedule what He has planned for me to do today.  It was quite an eye-opener for me.  I usually allow life to happen each day as it comes, assuming that my plans are His plans.  How arrogant and self-assuming!  I know that God has plans for me, but I usually interpret that to apply to the big picture of my life, not the daily mundane moments.  As we’ve discussed before, He even ordains my interruptions; In fact, they aren’t interruptions, but were sovereignly written in on my to-do list by Him!

So what glorious thing did God add to my to-do list today?  To faithfully complete my duties at home before going and doing those things I WANT to do.   It’s not profound, but very needful for me to hear.

Thank You, Father, for orchestrating all of my days.  Help me to accomplish the plans You have for me today!  I know that left to myself I will only do those things I want to do.  I desire, help me to desire, to do Your will in order that You might receive all glory and praise.  I am Your servant, and You have called me to serve my family faithfully.  May I represent You well in how I respond.  In the precious name of Jesus, Amen!

Busy, Busy, Busy… March 25, 2008

I didn’t have to look far for my “one thing” that God was working on. One morning a few weeks ago it was very apparent. My son didn’t have any clean shorts, we were out of milk, there was a pile of unopened mail on the dining room table, when my husband opened the fridge there was nothing to drink but Diet Coke (I had forgotten to make tea). Around 5 p.m. someone asked, “What is for dinner?” “Oh My!” I thought to myself ~ I have no idea, I hadn’t pulled anything out of the freezer that day, I was clueless.

What in the world? I had been “home” most of the week. It didn’t look like I was really taking care of things here though. It was very sad ~ I really was neglecting my family in many ways. It is very easy to deceive myself when I am home most of the time that is all I need to do. As long as I am not running around town day in and day out then I am living up to what God has called me to do. Nope, that is not true. God has revealed my laziness (doing what I want to do as supposed to what I should be doing) and has freshly envisioned me to orientate my heart and give my best energy to my husband and children. One small way is making more of an effort to make nice dinners for my family instead of every night just throwing something together. It sounds small but already I can see it spilling over into other areas ~ meal planning leads to better grocery lists, tea in the fridge and more thought into managing what we have in the home. I am praying that the Lord would continue to refresh me and help me to orientate my heart in the way that Titus 2 talks about being busy at home.

Dust Bunnies, New Carpet & My Heart March 24, 2008

Well, it is so interesting that the Lord is allowing this to come up at this time. This topic (domesticity) is one that I have been thinking about since the beginning of the year – maybe even longer. But as we are looking at what one area the Lord is calling us to “step-it-up” in, I have pretty much had mine spelled out for me this week!

It has been a crazy process – we are getting our house ready for a little girl that can arrive at any time. Of course, MY initial PLAN didn’t even come close to playing out in MY way. (Why am I surprised?) I had envisioned switching the rooms around, getting everything organized and then having the last month of pregnancy to rest and focus on school….yeah, right! The Lord had something else in mind for me! He wanted to remind me that He was in control – not me! So, after delayed carpet installation (which is finally done!), all the contents of our bedrooms cluttering the living room for about 3 weeks now and having anything but a “relaxing” last month of pregnancy, I think I am getting the hint that I am not in control!

This leads me to my ONE THING to focus on. While I know that I need to grow in the entire list, the Lord has graciously, yet specifically pointed one out to me this week – where I have lacked in cleaning and organization. Not that it has always been bad, but I have really let some things go. In my head, I can be very organized – yet when it comes to actually executing that plan, there seems to be a break-down. Good intentions never realized. (Sounds like nominalism!) I think it reveals a root of laziness. Not necessarily in the “sit around and eat bon-bons all day” definition, but more in the “doing what I WANT to do, not what I NEED to do” definition. As we have been emptying our bedrooms for this carpet installation, I have been faced with so many ways I have allowed things to go – whether it be lack of organization, or just areas I haven’t been faithful to dust/keep clean! It has been quite humbling, actually!

So I am now asking the Lord to help me – help me to come up with a plan that is workable for our family. A plan where I am fighting laziness and being faithful to be busy at home and maintaining it in a way that serves my husband and my children.

I know that lots of changes are headed my way and a lot of readjusting is going to be taking place over the next few weeks. But with the Lord’s help, I am planning to implement some changes in my life and schedule that will help me grow in this area.

Happy Easter Baking March 21, 2008

This was sent in by one of our readers as a great visual for teaching the biblical truths of Easter to our children; Not to mention that they sound yummy! Happy Easter to you and your family! See you next week!

Easter Story Cookies

    What You Need:

• 1 cup whole pecans
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup sugar
• zip lock bag
• wooden spoon
• tape
• Bible

    What You Do With It:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this MUST be done first — don’t wait until you’re half done with the recipe)
2. Place pecans in zip lock bag and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into small pieces. Talk about how the Roman soldiers beat Jesus. (Read John 19:1-3)
3. Let each child smell the vinegar as you put the 1 tsp. full into a mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. (Read John 19:28-30)
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Talk about how Jesus gave His life for us so that we might have life abundantly. (Read John 10:10-11)
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that the salt represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. (Read Luke 23:27)
6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar and explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus chose to die because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. (Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16)
7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Talk about the color white and how it represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. (Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3)
8. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. (Read Matt. 27: 57-60)
9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven “OFF.” Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Talk about how Jesus’ tomb was sealed with the stone. (Read Matt. 27: 65-66)
10. GO TO BED. Your child may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven. (Read John 16:20-22)
11. The next morning, open the oven and give each child a cookie. Take a bite and notice the COOKIES ARE HOLLOW! On the first Easter Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb empty. HE’S ALIVE!!!! (Read Matt. 28:1-9)

What’s Your One Thing? March 20, 2008

So did you take some time to consider the one thing the Lord would have you focus on as a homemaker? And did you make that call to a friend or older woman to set up a time to talk? If so, good for you! If not, please do!

From the same book I mentioned yesterday, here’s another thought from Carolyn Mahaney:

“Proverbs 14:1 says, ‘The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears her down.’ In other words, the home is our place to build. Our culture says it’s not a place worthy of our best labors, but we have to be careful not to allow the world to affect our thinking.”

The home worthy of our best labors? Hmmm. Let’s ask ourselves some questions:

• Are my husband, children and home the focus of my best labors? If not, what is?
• Do I invest my talents and gifts first and foremost in the home, or outside the home?
• Is my family surprised by my activities or meal selection on a given day when they find we’re not having people over?
• Do I find greater joy in serving my family or others?
• Do I regularly make excuses (to myself, husband, children, friends) about why I’m frequently late to meetings? Unable to serve someone because I’m behind in homemaking?
• If I asked my close friends what area of homemaking they see me as most in need of growth, what would they say? (Hey, maybe that’s another question you can ask that friend when you get together!)

The point of questions like this isn’t to produce condemnation or shame. Remember, the gospel provides us hope and help. There is NO condemnation for those who have been declared not guilty by the One who took our place on the cross! But questions like this help us to do a “reality check” on our hearts. They help the godly woman who values biblical femininity to discover areas in which she can trust God for change.

Remember, it’s just one thing…one thing for which we can trust God for change. One thing that will help us to be builders in our homes. One thing in which we can invest our “best labors.”

Eyes To See March 19, 2008

We’ve been talking about doing a “Spring Cleaning of the Heart” in relation to our role as homemakers. We hope you are taking some time to allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart. To give you eyes to see areas in which “subtle sins” have crept in and are robbing you of the beauty and value of being a worker at home.  (You heard from Debi yesterday on her “excuses” and you’ll read more from our blog team on this next week.)

In Biblical Womanhood in the Home Carolyn Mahaney says this:

“The woman of virtue portrayed in Proverbs 31 is commended for watching over the affairs of her household. In Titus 2:3-5 Paul instructs us…to be busy at home. These and other scriptures make it clear that while it is the man’s responsibility to be the provider for the home, it is the woman’s responsibility to be the caretaker of the home. Domesticity — devotion to the quality of home life — is an essential facet of femininity.”

Carolyn goes on to identify what being “managers” of our homes (see 1 Tim 5:14) looks like:

• Managing the order or schedule of the home
• Cleanliness
• Atmosphere
• Meals
• Clothing

Even those of us who are fulltime homemakers once had a job. (Perhaps you are a mom who is working outside the home; you have quite the responsibility!) When we were getting paid to work for someone, we were very conscious of how we were using our time and sought to be diligent and hard working while we were clocked in. As wives, mothers and homemakers, we don’t clock in and out! We’re on call 24/7. Yet this doesn’t mean we are now unaccountable because we don’t have a boss to report to. In fact, the Sovereign God of the universe is the One to whom we are accountable! He is watching.

And just think about the paycheck we will receive one day when we hear “Well done!”

As you look over the list above, take some time to prayerfully consider the one area in which you are most lacking. Do you find it challenging to wisely manage your time and become regularly frustrated over things not getting done well and in a timely fashion? Is your home lacking in cleanliness and order? Do you find yourself wondering at 4 PM regularly what to prepare for dinner, or have a pattern of relying heavily on convenience foods or ordering pizza? Does the laundry regularly pile up, leaving you overwhelmed with getting it all done?

Pick one thing to focus on, then do this. Do it right away. Ready? Call a friend who does well in this area from your observation. Or if you know an older woman (mom, mother-in-law, godly woman in the church) that would be ever better! Either way, humble yourself and call someone to ask to set up a time to talk. Ask her for practical tips and to pray for you. She will be so blessed that you called. And you will experience the grace God promises to the humble.

Excuse Me! March 18, 2008

This is a very familiar, polite term that we often associate with interrupting someone’s conversation, walking in front of someone in the store, or coughing really loud in public. But I have found myself thinking this phrase in the most unexpected place – when I’m not doing what I should be doing.

For example, when I was committed to homeschooling my three children, I absolutely loved it. Many times my husband would come home to a disorganized and messy home, with no dinner in progress. When asked how my day went, I would think to myself, “Excuse me, I’ve been busy homeschooling these three children, what do you think I’ve been doing all day?” Of course it didn’t come out of my mouth that way…most of the time, anyway! But in talking about domesticity and our calling to be busy at home doing what God has called us to do, I see now, that even though I was busy homeschooling, this shouldn’t be an excuse for letting other areas of my domestic calling fall by the wayside.

In pursuing our calling not just in name only, but full of conviction, let’s be aware of the “excuse me’s” we allow ourselves to get away with, feeling justified in our lack of diligence. How do we do this? The best way is to confess to our husband and let him know the excuses we are tempted to use in moments like these. It’s not easy, but it’s a sure way to silence our excuses.