Jul. 12, 2006 - The Lord's Discernement
Home Management

In the last month I have looked at more blogs than I can count.  Now granted I can only count to twenty since I only have ten fingers (including thumbs) and ten toes.  Or I guess that could be 100 if I count by 5's.  Or perhaps I could count by 10's and get to 200.  Even that number probably wouldn't begin to touch the number of posts I have read.

Now back to what  I was getting at.  Every blog that I visit usually has several entries with great advise.  Now let's say on Monday I read 100/blog entries and 20 of those entries have great advise.  The advise was so great in fact that I wanted to implement each of those tips in my family's life.  Now lets say the same thing happens Tuesday through Friday.  Do you realize at the end of ONE WEEK I have found 100 TIPS that I want to implement in my family's life!  

Now some of these tips could seem very small and simple like assigning each child a different color cup and they have to use that cup all day.  Or say that it is a chore changing tip like the way you do laundry.  Either way by the end of the week you could end up making 100 changes to your family life.  in 10 weeks you could conceivably make 1000 changes in your family's life. 

Your life would be in constant change.  Now don't get me wrong, sometimes we need to change our approach or habits to better our family.  Sometimes you need an easier process for accomplishing something.  Sometimes you know something isn't working the way you are doing it so you need to find a new way, but I seriously doubt ANY one FAMILY needs to make a 1000 changes in their life over a 10 week period.  Even if they did, 10 weeks would be entirely too small of a time period to make the changes.

Your children would revolt at the changes in their life (even if they are for the better).  Your husband would balk at you turning his life upside down.  And you would drive yourself completely INSANE trying to keep up with all the changes.  Making all of these changes would be like changing curriculum every time you found a new one. 

I propose a different solution.  It is simple really, and it just didn't dawn on me until this morning.  I was reading a blog that is one I get updates on via my RSS feed.  This BLIEND was sharing a neat new website that was something you could do with your family.  After reading the post I had to think fast.  

I had two options really.  I could click on the link, discover a great new find, and figure out how our family could enjoy this great find.  Or, I could hit the delete button. How did I know what to do?  I closed my eyes, and I said, "OK Lord, this could be really neat, but should I even consider looking at it."  Very quickly through my mind flashed a 100 things I already have going on right now.  God had given me my answer. 

Every great idea, find, tip, link, solution, etc., may not be so great for your family.  In fact, as great as they may seem, they could be detrimental to the function of your home.  Again, children do NOT do well with lots of changes in their lives.  It is often better to make gradual changes- please note there are exceptions to this rule. 

Now, I am not saying that my household is perfect and I don't need all the tips I find- far from it.  What I am saying, is today I realized I am on tip overload.  My children have been through so many changes in the last year that it isn't even funny.  Do I really want to add more to their stress by changing the way they sort clothes, stack the dishes, set the table, store toys, etc.??

Instead of finding great ideas and starting them immediately, I challenge you to pray.  Ask God if this is really something you need in your life right now, or if it can wait.  In other words. look to God for discernment

Here are several scriptures I have found to meditate on.  These are all reminders to listen and wait on God and let Him lead you so that he can reveal His will for your life:

Exodus 14:14

Job 15:8

Psalm 37:7

Psalm 46:10a

Proverbs 1:5

Proverbs 8:34

Proverbs 15:22

Proverbs 16:3

Proverbs 19:21

Jeremiah 29:11

Romans 12:2

2 Corinthians 1:17

As a side note I would like to continue to encourage all those who do post tips to keep them coming.  I didn't write this post to stop tips form spanning the internet, but rather to encourage those who find all these wonderful tips to use some discernment in implementing all these great finds.  I know I will personally continue to post things I think will benefit other.  After all, if God uses you to benefit ONE SINGLE PERSON, you will have done God's work.

In His Grip,

Brandi

© Brandi M Webster Lone Star Academy 2006

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Comments

Jul. 12, 2006 - I so agree!

Posted by homesweethomeschooler

I was just thinking about this, this morning. I love browsing blogs, but I have a limited resource of time and energy. I do keep track of the best ideas (smile) but if they don't get into our routine eventually, they weren't for us. smile

Thanks for sharing.

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Jul. 12, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by spunkyhomeschool

I had to learn this lesson the hard way. I learned even before blogging actually. I'd go to a support meeting and get loaded up on great ideas. Too many. I had to learn to listen with great discernment. I approach blogs the same way. I read with discernment. It really does keep us from discouragement and a lot of other messes.

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Jul. 14, 2006 - This is a great tip!

Posted by Littlebitofeverythingmama

Haha! No, really! It definitely is a great idea to seek God before trying to implement so many changes. I knew we needed a change in our laundry routine! Your tip on laundry is saving my sanity and I don't feel like we are constantly doing laundry. Well, we are doing it daily, but not hours and hours a day. But, right now I can't implement a bunch of changes - because like you said, my family would be on overload. Our changes previously were for nutrition, but we had to cut back, because of funds - so we are focusing on training. Great post!! Thanks b!

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Jul. 14, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

I agree Brandi. I love to read the tips, too, and some are things that I want to do NOW, but others I wait on and maybe never do. Really good thoughts here.

Jennifer, snapshot
www.jennifersnapshot.blogspot.com

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Jul. 21, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Great advice on being selective on taking advice. Thank you for sharing this with the Carnival of Family Life.

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Jul. 24, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Gina

I'm reading through the carnival of Family life and I can soooo relate to this. I've saved so many things to do to my del.icio.us that it'll take me a couple of life times to do them all. But at least they're saved and when I feel like I can add one more thing I can find them. Maybe when I revisit some of them I'll realize I CAN hit that delete button!

Gina
www.portraitofawriter.blogspot.com

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