Just a Reminder for all the Mothers

December 2, 2009 by LATOIA
Filed under Christian Living, Devotionals, Family, Features, Motherhood, Parenting

According to Titus 2:5 it is important that a young woman keep her home. She is “to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to [her] husband, so that no one will malign the Word of God.” Unfortunately, our society has taken this out of context and we have placed more importance on keeping up appearances than anything else. I ran across this great poem today that was a refreshing reminder of what my most important role in my home is…raising my children. Too many days are spent focusing on the aesthetics and not on the tasks that have true value, real merit and will place an indelible mark on the future.

I Took His Hand and Followed
Mrs. Roy L. Peifer

My dishes went unwashed today,I didn’t make the bed,

I took his hand and followed Where his eager footsteps led.

Oh yes, we went adventuring, My little son and I…

Exploring all the great outdoors Beneath the summer sky

We waded in a crystal stream,We wandered through a wood…

My kitchen wasn’t swept today, But life was gay and good.

We found a cool, sun-dappled glade, And now my small son knows

How Mother Bunny hides her nest, Where jack-in-the-pulpit grows.

We watched a robin feed her young, We climbed a sunlit hill…

Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky, We plucked a daffodil.

That my house was neglected, That I didn’t brush the stairs,

In twenty years, no one on earth, Will know, or even care.

But that I’ve helped my little boy, To noble manhood grow,

In twenty years, the whole wide world, May look and see and know.

Although it appears that the author of the poem was referring to educating her son in general, Christian mothers (which should really be all mothers) have the added responsibility of raising our children in God-centered homes. A mother’s faithful instruction multiplies to bless others as her children grow into mature servants of God. 2 Tim. 1:5

2 Timothy 1:5 (ASV)
⁵ having been reminded of the unfeigned faith that is in thee; which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and, I am persuaded, in thee also.

Be blessed…

Tags: housework, Motherhood, Parenting, stay at home mom, time management

Keeping Up Appearances

July 28, 2009 by LATOIA
Filed under Christian Living, Devotionals, Family, Features, For the Home, Motherhood, Society & Culture

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The doorbell rings and your heart flutters. “I’m not expecting any company today,” you think to yourself. You look around at the toys on the floor, the laundry basket in the corner and other miscellaneous items scattered around the room in frustration. As you approach the door you attempt to gather yourself and put on your best face. “Oh, good afternoon sister. What a pleasant surprise. Come on in.” you say as gleefully as possible. Then, it happens–the apologies and excuses begin. Please excuse our untidiness today,we got a late start; these kids never pick up after themselves; it’s laundry day, just to name a few.

It’s no different when you get a call and someone requests to stop by, the anxiety still exists. But why? What has given us the notion that we all have to be Martha Stewart or B. Smith with Style? What has given us the notion that we should appear to be prepared to entertain like Martha or B. Smith at a moments notice? I like things to be aesthetically pleasing so, I recently wrestled in this area and became extremely frustrated.

We struggle in the area of hospitality. After a few conversations lately, I realize that I’m not the only one. My house is lived in. I have two young daughters, that love to play, Although we have systems set into place, sometimes something just doesn’t get put away and I have to learn to be okay with that. Why should I feel rushed to make someone think that our family doesn’t live in our home? Should I wait until I’m ready to be featured in Better Homes and Gardens or In Style Homes to open our home to company? That can’t be true.

Remember, if you will, the commercial when the woman convinces her family that their dessert “takes time” as she relaxes while reading a novel. She then, hurriedly splatters her face and clothes with flour and bursts from the kitchen with the Rice Krispy Treats as if she slaved over them. It is easy to want everyone to remember all the work we put into our centerpieces and how we slaved over a meal. That’s our flesh just doing what it does. It should be more important to us that our guest are comfortable than how impressed they are with us. Hospitality begins in our hearts. We can forgo fancy feasts and lavish decorations and open our hearts when we open our homes.

Our culture has caused us to be consumed with keeping up appearances. We have confused the true meaning of Biblical hospitality. It is not about living in the right neighborhood or having the “right house”. It’s about serving others and not about others praising us for doing so. Jesus often crossed economic, cultural and social divides in order to be hospitable to others, even though he wasn’t in his own home.

Being hospitable may not always be convenient or comfortable. As a child, my parents opened up our three bedroom home all the time. Often, to people that they had just met. My mom and her sisters would get together and prepare meals and there would always be more than enough. My parents would lend their vehicles to people while other saints questioned their actions. I did not understand why I had to crash on the couch or why we were down to one vehicle then but, now I understand what they felt compelled to do. They had to show the love of Christ. The following scriptures highlight the importance of the hospitality of believers:

When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Romans 12:13 (NLT)

Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Hebrews 13:2 (NLT)

Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ's body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing Him). 1 Peter 4:9 (Amplified)

After meditating on these scriptures I feel at peace with our lived in abode. I thank God that we always have a place for someone to rest their head, something to satisfy their hunger and word of prayer. I thank God that those unexpected visits might have been preordained. No more concern with keeping up appearances.

On every level of life from housework to the heights of prayer, in all judgement and all efforts to get things done, hurry and impatience are the sure marks of an amateur. Evelyn Underhill

Tags: homemaking, hospitality, housework, stay at home mom

Choosing the Home-Business That is Right for You

April 7, 2009 by admin
Filed under Family, Finance

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Choosing the Home-Business That’s Right For You
By Jill Hart

Starting down a new career path can be both exciting and terrifying. There are a lot of tools on the market that can help you determine what type of career field you should enter. But what if your chosen “career path” is being an entrepreneur and running a home-based business? Do the rules change? Below are five questions to ask yourself to help you determine what type of business might be right for you.

1. What is your passion?

Answer this question with the first thing that comes to mind: If money were no object and you could do anything, what would you do? You might have answered “be a writer”, “speak at conferences,” “bring my product idea to life” or any number of things. Whatever your answer, this most likely is your passion. I challenge you to take the time to ponder this and see if there is a way to bring your dream to fruition.

2. What types of things did you like to do as a child?

Many times the toys and games we loved as children give us a glimpse into who we have become as adults. If you loved climbing trees, you may now be an “outdoorsy” type of person. Think about how this might be incorporated into your business. For instance, you might enjoy setting up outdoor birthday parties for children or selling herbs from your backyard garden.

3. What type of products would you be interested in representing?

If you’re looking in the direction of direct sales, whether that be your own product or an established home-based business option, you need to think through what types of products you’d be comfortable presenting to your customers. Take the time to do some research and find a product that truly excites you. Your customers will see your sincerity and that can sell a product just as easily as a fancy presentation.

4. What skills and experience do you bring to the table?

If you’ve left the corporate world in favor of working at home, you’ve undoubtedly brought with you a set of skills. There may be a way to market those skills in a new way and turn them into a profitable business. For instance, if you were an executive assistant you may be able to type 80 words or more per minute. You could set up shop as a Virtual Assistant and help other business owners in processing orders, transcribing documents and much more.

5. Are you thinking outside of the box?

Most of us have a fear of the unknown. We many times assume that if we haven’t done something before it is simply out of reach. This carries over to the business world as well. We take our products or services and market them in the same way that we see other business owners using. However, it can be much more effective to find new and innovative ways to market. One home-based business owner I know sells stuffable toy kits. Instead of using the usual home parties and birthday party events, she works almost exclusively with children’s hospitals doing fundraisers. She makes a great living and helps not only the hospitals, but the children as well. She is a great example of unique marketing and overcoming the mundane marketing methods that so many business owners resign themselves to.

Your home-based business should be unique to you. It should make you want to get up each morning excited about the possibilities of the day ahead. Take the time to thoroughly think through the questions above and you’ll be on your way to making a great, well thought out decision that has your name written all over it!

Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. Jill is co-author of the upcoming book So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom (Beacon Hill, Sept. 2009). Jill welcomes work-at-home questions at http://AskJill.cwahm.com.

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