This post is per request of some moms out there wondering how I manage everything that involves being a homekeeper, helpmeet and mother of many.  I must start with a disclaimer though J. 

Disclaimer:  I am a child of God, striving every day to put away the old and put on the new.  I am human and deal with the same struggles that many others experience on this narrow path.  I have days when I feel weary, overwhelmed and completely incapable of doing what has been set before me.  I am in no way claiming to be perfect or to have all the answers, but sharing the things the Lord has shown me to manage the great responsibilities set before me….praying it will encourage others!

That being said, J here is what I have to offer…..

I know at times, when I am feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, I go out seeking spiritual encouragement AND practical encouragement.  I am praying I can offer both of these to women seeking out ways to improve the manageability of their homes.  I am speaking from the experience of managing a home with many children so it may seem like I am reaching out to only those who are also trying to manage a home effectively with many children running around, BUT my heart is for all moms!  If you have 1 child or 10, my heart is for you!  You are doing wonderful work for the Kingdom!

First I will begin with my thoughts on handling my busy life spiritually.  I start with this because, even with all the practical advice to be given, none of it is worth anything without the guidance, strength and wisdom freely given to us by our Heavenly Father! 

I honestly do not know what I would do without Jesus Christ to lead me on this journey I am on!  I can often be found on my knees, begging the Lord to give me wisdom…..to teach me, Himself, how to be a Godly wife, a nurturing, patient mother and an efficient homekeeper.  I have cried out many tears of feeling completely incapable and overwhelmed and it is in these times when He gently reminds me that I have been trying to go about it my own way…..to do it all on my own.  It IS easy to get so busy and wrapped up in this life that I begin to run ahead of the Lord!  He is so gracious to pull me back to His side and lead me forth in peace.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; SEEK, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives, and he who SEEK, finds and to him who knocks it will be opened.”  Matthew 7:7

I would ask Moms out there today…..do you have a place to run to the Lord??  I mean a REAL physical place? 

“For I know the thoughts I think toward you,” says the Lord, “thoughts of peace and NOT of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon me and GO and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  And you will SEEK Me, and find Me, when you search for me with all of your heart.  I will be be found by you,” says the Lord……

Jeremiah 29:11-14a

I have come to believe that this sort of place is so important because it is not only in the morning, afternoon or evening….whenever you choose to have a ‘quiet time’ with the Lord, but those moments come when we need a place to run to Him.  Yes, sometimes I lay my head in my hands on the kitchen counter, in the midst of the daily cleaning and ask Him for strength….but lately it has become so special for me to have a special place to go and speak to Him.  I cannot explain the peaceful presence I feel when I do this, when I enter this place.  It can be any place…your bedroom, your closet, a corner in a basement room…anywhere.  I usually retrieve to a room in my basement.  If I am feeling a need to have a moment with the Saviour, I tell the children I am going to talk with Jesus a while.  Usually I am not gone for long, for the Lord is so good at bringing comfort and strength in the time that I have to steal away.  We must be able to do this, in order to fill up our cups….for the many demands of life can leave our cups feeling empty.  Going to the Lord, drawing His precious waters, being reminded by Him how FULL our cups really are, is something that can keep us going!

“Depart from evil, and do good, seek PEACE, and pursue it.”  Psalm 34:14

We MUST seek peace and PURSUE IT, for it IS God’s will and His design!  Part of our “success” is to continually be on our knees…we must SEEK, SEEK, SEEK.

“But from there you will SEEK the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul.” Deut. 4:29

“Let the hearts of those rejoice, who SEEK the Lord, SEEK the Lord and HIS strength; SEEK His face forevermore.” 1 Chronicles 16:10

“But those who SEEK the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” Psalm 34:10

And when pondering the thoughts of having a special place to meet Him….REMEMBER….your life began with HIM in a secret place!

There is no way to manage this sort of life effectively and peacefully, without the guidance of our Father.  He guides us through the reading of His Word and through prayer. 

“Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

 How true this is.  If we are not reading His word we are attempting this journey, this narrow path in the darkness.  The Word is our LAMP, our LIGHT….we MUST use it! 

One other important thing I do in my home is praise and worship….EVEN when I do not FEEL like doing it.  For instance, one day I was having a VERY rough day.  I just could not get myself focused on the things of the Lord….which, in actuality, are my children, my husband and my home.  I gathered my children in the living room, busied them with things to do on the floor, such as coloring, building with legos, writing etc…and I put in a cd called “When Christ Comes” by Max Lacado.  I laid on the couch and allowed my soul rest in worship of the Father and before I knew it, I was refreshed and refocused.  I didn’t FEEL like doing that…but I KNEW it needed to be done.  My children do often see their Mama singing, dancing and praising the Lord.  It is one thing that gets me through this heavy life and has been a ministry to the lives watching mine.

The last thing I would like to add on managing my life is my need to seek out encouragement from others.  Many mothers out there have been so gracious to reach out to me and encourage me as a young mother.  One of the greatest sources of encouragement for me has been Above Rubies.  www.aboverubies.org  They offer a magazine FULL of encouragement at no cost.  I just finished going through all my issues again….reading and gleaning ideas from other moms.  The website also has many wonderful articles and stories.  Ask the Lord to lead you to people who will encourage you in your walk with Him and in your BLESSED life as a mother and wife!  He will be faithful to do just that!

For now I must go….the Lord has blessed me with some time this afternoon to write, but I can no longer do so knowing the other responsibilities awaiting my attention J.  I will write part 2 at a later time addressing practical ways the Lord has helped me to manage my home, making it, for the most part, a peaceful place to live!

Many blessings to all!  Take courage! 

Note: all verses are NKJV