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Jul. 21, 2009
At the Well - Even the Housework Lord??
Gather 'round ladies, because today we are comin' clean! We are going to take a look at the practical side of what it means to be a keeper at home - keeping a clean and tidy home.
But wait??? Does God really care what my home looks like? While there is no such Scripture that says, 'Woman, thou shalt keep thy home clean, tidy and scrubbed", He does call us to be keepers and managers (1 Timothy 5) of our homes.
We need to keep in mind that everything we have belongs to our Father. Therefore, does it not make sense that we should take care of what He has entrusted us with? Now, that isn't to say that your house will be in perfect order with tubs that shine, no crumbs on the floor, or (we do after all live in our homes). I do believe, however, that as keepers and managers of our homes, we should keep our homes tidy and well kept.
Read the REST HERE...
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Jun. 16, 2009
At the Well - An Extension of Ourselves
Today At The Well Chelsey writes about our homes being An Extension of Ourselves and displaying the Glory of God. Her question to us was, How does your home bring Glory to the Father?
I particularly liked that Chelsey talked about having Scripture on your walls, just as is described in Deuteronomy 6. Here is a photo of some Scripture plaques I made for my own home for only a few dollars each. I love to have it around the home, showing others how much we love Jesus!
Stop by and visit At the Well today.....An Extension of Ourselves
Lisa Metzger
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May. 20, 2009
At the Well - The Temptation of Laziness
I wanted this Reflections on the Home to touch on something that I have to work at on a daily basis.....laziness.
I'm not a lazy person, but I can have lazy tendencies and sometimes these tendencies can go on for days.
The result??
A house that is in a complete and total mess, teenagers who are living the example their mother is setting before them (horribly, messy rooms!!..), and a husband who is less than pleased.
The result of that??
A home that is not peaceful or joyful. A home that is not filled with laughter and smiles. A home that is not hospitable (forbid it that someone should just "drop by").
Most of the time, I'm prepared for just about anything....our teens bringing home extra teens, DH bringing home a co-worker, extended family just dropping by. At the very least the bathroom is tidy and stocked, the living room is picked up, and the dishes are usually clean and ready for use.
I believe that my house is a reflection of my respect for my husband. He works so hard everyday to provide for our family. He doesn't go to work with the attitude that half his best is good enough. If that was his attitude, he wouldn't get the promotion or the raise and most likely wouldn't keep the job. He would fail at providing for his family. The rest HERE...
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Apr. 13, 2009
Make a Habit of Having No Habits
~ God’s Word ~
2 Peter 1:5-8 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
~ Oswald Chambers Thoughts ~
“The right thing to do with habits is to lose them in the life of the Lord, until every habit is so practiced that there is no conscious habit at all. Our spiritual life continually resolves into introspection, because there are some qualities we have not added yet...Watch how your Father will upset those times if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes – ‘I can’t do that right now, I am praying; it is my hour with God.’ No, it is the hour with your habit…Recognize the defect and then look for the opportunity of exercising yourself along the line of the quality to be added.”
~ Lisa’s Thoughts ~
The problem with consciously developing habits is that they have the tendency to become a goal which we must claim at any cost. Just as Mary did when Jesus came to visit her and Martha, we, too, focus so diligently on completing the task before us that we neglect other things that are more important. We must set goals in order of priority and accomplish them as God would have us do. Interruptions sent by God to keep our spirit in line should be met with a pleasant attitude and a willing heart, not a grumbling spirit.
If I try to develop a habit of mopping the floors every Tuesday and Friday and I consciously make an effort to complete my new chore on time that is a admirable goal. However, if a child needs my attention in the midst of gathering my mop and bucket, my persistence in making my floor sparkle can and should wait. Developing this habit of keeping my floors clean is not a sin, but it is a sin to neglect my priorities for the sake of developing a good habit. The important thing is that I not overlook or neglect things that God presents to me when I am in the midst of developing a new habit. The sin is not in the motivation of developing habits, but the way in which we hold them to be so utterly important when we are in the process of developing them. Habits must not become our gods.
More importantly spiritual and relational habits should become so much of a second nature to us that they are hardly habits at all. We should seek to add qualities to our spiritual repertoire, so that those qualities keep us productive and effective in our spiritual lives. Constant inventory should be taken of our spiritual condition and that introspection should become a natural habit. The beautiful result is that this new spiritual growth will overflow into our daily lives.
Just remember to bring to Jesus every new habit you desire to make and then let the Holy Spirit guide you in developing those habits at the correct time and place. God will lead us if we ask! Let God be God and not your habits!
Lisa Metzger
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Apr. 4, 2009
Ladies, a motto for our home!
As one God has blessed with a home....
My duty is to create and maintain a space that honors God,
nurtures the spirit, enhances growth, and ministers to others.
My delight is to enjoy the home I've shaped and the sense of accomplishment that comes from obedience.
by Donna Otto
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Apr. 1, 2009
Easy Entertaining for the Unexpected Guest
The doorbell rings. You open the door to find an unexpected guest stopping by for a quick visit. Refreshments, at least a drink, are a must. The thought of serving the usual coke or ice water for the millionth time is enough to make your head spin. And how about something to nibble on? Saltine crackers and animal cookies somehow seem like you’re providing snack time for a preschooler. How can Martha Stewart make quick entertaining look so easy and prepared? You obviously don’t have the time to starch and iron the special table covering that is packed away in your linen closet. And you don’t even want to think about constructing a new table cloth out of Martha’s idea of odds and ends.
Preparedness is essential in almost every situation, but it's always nice to show off your hospitality skills when you have a guest over to your humble abode. Here are some tips for keeping the unexpected company wondering HOW you did it.
Coffee, Tea & Other Goodies
Perhaps a glass of iced tea with a slice of lemon to eat out on your porch would be perfect for a spring or summer day. Have a pitcher of iced tea and a lemon ready in your fridge. When a guest arrives, pour it into a more decorative dispenser and serve with a plate of sliced lemons.
How about a quick cup of coffee or tea with chocolate dipped biscotti on the side? Coffee or hot tea would be good for an early morning or evening visitor. Make sure that you enough coffee on hand for an entire pot of refills. It is best to serve both the tea and coffee with real cream. Keep the cream in stock and dispense with an attractive sugar and creamer set. Something light and easy is key to a quick assembly.
What? No time to make homemade biscotti? Keep refrigerated cookie dough on hand in the fridge. Spoon onto a cookie sheet lined with foil and bake. Foil will make less of a mess. Clean up will be a snap. This entire process can be completed in less than 15 minutes!
Presentation is not a must, but it does add to the atmosphere!
Have a place in your home set aside for the unexpected visitor. A living room is ideal since it is a place that is usually not in use by most families on a daily basis. However, a cleared dinette table with a simple tablecloth and a vase of flowers, a potted herb or a house plant will do just fine. Remember to keep the presentation similar to your decorating taste for the prepared, yet not overdone, look.
Neat and Tidy
Does the untidiness of family life impede upon the mood of hospitality? What can you do when company has called, telling you of their impending visit? Keep an empty laundry basket in a place that you can grab it easily on the way to answer the door. Collect clutter in the basket as you walk toward the door. Stash the laundry basket somewhere for the later organization of the misplaced objects. If you have children, let the kids know that when company is on the way, they must collect the clutter and place it in this basket as fast as they are able.
Music and Candles are also a nice extra. Music should also suit your taste and may be played in the background so you can still engage in a conversation without having to talk loudly.
Always keep a suitable CD, for the unexpected company, in your CD player so that you can just push the play button when the doorbell rings.
Candles add warmth and a nice fragrance to your house, whether company is present or not. Candlelight is perfect for a relaxed atmosphere, but a light fragrance is best as to not overpower. Try a variety of scents prior to entertaining so that you can find the perfect scent for your house.
The Bottom Line
Remember that entertaining the unexpected guest should be relatively easy and nearly stress-free. Preparedness is key! Dedicate to demonstrate true hospitality to the unexpected guest. Open your home willingly. Show the heart of Jesus to all who step over your threshold. Romans 12:13 "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."
~ Lisa Metzger
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