Being Busy in the Home

Many years ago, we moved to Ft. Lauderdale when my husband was transferred. I was at the bank filling out forms to open a checking account, when I was confronted with a new reality. “Address: None” (none yet...we had a contract on a house, but were still living in a hotel). “Employer: None.” I was also newly pregnant.

I reviewed my status: unemployed, pregnant, and no home. At least I wasn’t barefoot. Then I realized I was tying up my identity in what I did, not in whose I was. Even though my employment status, address, and family status had just changed, I had been, and still was, a Daughter of the King.

The truth is, anyone including stay-at-home moms can depend too much on what they do for their identity. That’s because we’re tempted to identify ourselves by what we do. I was a student, then a Bank Auditor. Now I am a wife, home-schooling mom, and photographer. Through the years what I do has changed. But the foundational part of my identity is that Jesus loves me and died to make me His child.

~ Adrea Thomas

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of Sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” Ro. 8:15-17a

Being Busy in the Home

For the last two weeks I have pretty much been immobile. I have had to rely on my family to help me do things. The girls have made dinner and have been such a blessing to me in so many ways. The boys have been doing more around the house too. And my sweet husband even did the grocery shopping for me. I am not used to being the one who is being served and at times have been uncomfortable with all the attention.

Being busy in my home has been at a standstill. Although I have delegated many tasks, I have folded laundry from the couch, ironed from the couch, done school from the couch and have even helped the girls with cooking from the couch, there are many things that have been put to the side for now. I think the Lord would just have me be still and rest in Him. Far too often I forget to rest in my Heavenly Father.

So often I can get consumed with my mental checklist that the task becomes more important than the people. Learning to rely on others has been humbling yet somewhat freeing at the same time. I am sure before too long things will be back to normal (whatever that is) and I will be back doing all the things that a wife and mother do. But today, being still and quiet seems to be what the Lord would have me do. ~ Sharlyn Eddy

1 Peter 3:4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

Being Busy in the Home

I would definitely describe myself as a home-body and love to be home whenever possible. Unfortunately that doesn’t automatically mean I like to “be busy at home”. But thankfully, I have a mom who excels in that area! She works hard to make sure the house is clean and organized, tastefully decorated and most importantly filled with joy, peace and laughter. Love for God and her family are what spur her on to add that extra touch to a room or finish that twentieth load of laundry. She has helped instruct me over the years about the importance of cultivating a love for the home while I’m single, all the while learning that where we live is not just a house, but a home. When I undertake a task at home, it helps me to remember who I am doing it for. First and foremost for God and secondly to serve my family. When I set my heart and thoughts to think about it that way, I’m a little more joyful in the process, a little stronger for the task and a little more eager to fulfill the role God has called me to. Let me leave you with a quote from one of my favorite authors. I hope it encourages and envisions you, as much as it has me.

Four walls do not make a home—though it is a palace filled with all the elegances which wealth can buy! The home-life itself is more important than the house and its adornments. By the home-life, is meant the happy art of living together in tender love. We enter some homes, and they are full of sweetness—as fields of summer flowers are full of fragrance. All is order, beauty, gentleness and peace. We enter other homes, where we find jarring, selfishness, harshness and disorder. This difference is not accidental. They are influences at work in each home, which yield just the result we see in each. No home-life can ever be better than the life of those who make it. A true home is set up and all its life ordered—for the definite purpose of training, building up and sending our human lives fashioned into Christlike symmetry, filled with lofty impulses and aspirations, governed by principles of rectitude and honor, and fitted to enter upon the duties and struggles of life with spiritual wisdom and strength. - J.R. Miller

~ Lana Calabello

Being Busy in the Home

Last week I was in one of my favorite places on the planet: the children's section of the public library. I had to laugh as the Lord showed me something about myself. As I was trying to locate a favorite author I noticed a few books were shelved in the wrong place. I quickly put them where they belonged and then noticed more books in the wrong place! "What is going on around here?" I thought self-righteously to myself as I began to become a little irritated. I patted myself on the back for volunteering fifteen minutes of my time to get the small, three shelf section back in proper working order.

When I returned home a few minutes later I noticed a very large plastic bag of leaves which had been sitting on the back porch where I had left it a couple of weeks ago when the weather was nice and I was inspired to begin removing the first of dozens of bags of leaves. I sensed the Lord saying to me "You were really uptight about a few books that were in the right section but not in your preferred alphabetical order. What about the unfinished job that is your real responsibility?" I didn't feel any sense of condemnation from the Lord but instead a revelation. As I thought about the two scenarios I believe the Lord began to help me work through (with laughter) why I had been avoiding the leaf job. I have an administrative gift that I have learned to channel in certain ways. Putting books in alphabetical order is quick, relatively easy, measureable and leaves you with a sense of accomplishment. Removing an entire backyard of leaves is overwhelming, time-consuming, difficult and seems like even if you do hours of work you would hardly make a dent. So my revelation? I want to do work that makes me FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF. But as Rhonda reminded us yesterday our home is to be our focus, not our feelings. So once again I need the Lord to teach me how to realistically tackle huge, difficult jobs for the glory of God. And not begrudgingly either: but with real joy. Thank you God for arms and legs to use to do this task. Thank you for warming weather to make the task more pleasant. Thank you that I have the time and energy to serve my family (and people like Allie Olsen who likes to go in my backyard while Ben has his piano lesson. I told her I just don't look out the door and then I don't have to think about it). The Lord is patient with us. I am so thankful for this. So as the Lord once again turns my focus to the proper place, my home, I will see what He has to teach me as He is my companion as we rake leaves together!

~ Brenda Edwards

Being Busy in the Home

Remember the phrase “There is no place like home…There is no place like home” that Dorothy quoted in the Wizard of Oz after discovering what was “over the rainbow?” I’m sure many of us have found ourselves saying the same thing at times. I know I have. But would our families echo, “There is no place like home?”

God in His wisdom has mandated that women are to be busy in the home. Titus 2:4-5 encourages the young women to be homemakers (hard workers, working diligently and skillfully in the home)…or home guardians (caregivers and gatekeepers). Scripture also gives examples of godly women who worked in other settings beside their home. But it was never to the neglect of their families and their homes. You see the issue is that home must always remain the constant and ongoing priority in our lives. Our homes and families are to be our primary focus, as well as the primary beneficiaries of our energies and gifts.

Many of us tend to think that working in the home is about cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, and the endless other chores required to maintain a home. Yet in the midst of living life - dressing, eating, sleeping, working, changing diapers, kids doing homework,
watching television, working through conflicts, laughing, tucking children into bed - far more is happening than meets the eye.

While it is clear that we are to be about hard work, I believe the emphasis is not so much on which job a woman does around the house or how she oversees the upkeep of her home. God is not concerned about whether we are crafty or not. He doesn’t dictate whether we have hired help to clean our house or we do it ourselves, whether we bake cookies or buy them at the store, whether we iron our shirts or take them to the cleaners. Every woman has her own style, her own strengths and bents and her own situation to deal with.

The emphasis is really about “focus.” God asks that we focus our gifts and energies on the ministry of the home, to fix our hearts on; to set our sights upon; to think first; to direct our energies toward the home. God is calling us to fix our hearts on our homes with diligence and love. The people who live in our homes are to be our focus. If we create a beautiful museum in which our families cannot live, work or play freely, we have lost our focus. Children need to be able to use glue and scissors. Husbands need to be able to romp on the floor with their kids and teenagers need to be able to bring their friends home. We are to create an inviting atmosphere of love, joy and peace. A place we enjoy and where they will say, “There is no place like home.”

Again, we must remember that home is our place to enjoy; home is our place for ministry; home is our place to build and home is our place to manage. It is here we are to be hard workers, strong workers, cheerful workers, unselfish workers, and the Lord’s worker described in Proverbs 31.

Pause for a moment and ask yourself the following questions: Do you think your family would describe you as happy? Why or why not? What is one way you can grow in creating a joyful atmosphere in your home?

Join us this week as we look at what it means to be a home-worker.
~ Rhonda Calabello

Being Busy in the Home

I never thought that writing a small entry about “being busy in the home” would stump me like this one has. When I had young children and so much to do I longed for down time and the promised leisure that would come when they would one day leave home. As they moved on into college and beyond, I found myself longing for something to do. Not “busy” work, but not a lack of work either.

What kind of work am I asking for? After mulling this over I realize three things. One, after many years of various afflictions which slowed me down or laid me up, I am so grateful for busy fruitful days. I thank God for the health and grace to sustain me that I might bear fruit or bring beauty to my home. The Lord certainly used those sluggish days but I sure enjoy the active ones a whole lot more. Second, for years I have prayed from psalms 71 and 92, that I would “still bring forth fruit in old age” and that I would have the opportunity to “show thy strength unto this generation and thy power to every one that is to come.” That implies a bit of work and I hunger for it. Third, I think that the word industrious sums up the role of a woman in the home (and workplace), whatever her age. Industrious rather than idle. Industrious with children and without. Industrious whether young or old. Now that I am older I find myself a bit slower physically and I can not possibly keep the pace that I did 20 years ago. Still, I want to stay active in my pursuit of the Lord, in my home and in any place that He sends me. Lord, just let me bring forth fruit in old age. Amen. ~ Inez Holger

Being Busy in the Home

My grandma used to say “cleanliness is next to godliness” was in the Bible. It’s not! And we’d all be wise to remember that as we’re bustling about getting the house in order today! Our first priority is not cleanliness- it’s being a child of God and a wife, a daughter, or a Mom. It’s serving Him by serving others!

In your chores you do have a wonderful opportunity to model godliness for your family. We can inspire our children, friends and friends’ children through our joyful daily life. When my sister was up visiting recently, she modeled this to my children. She put aprons on Timbo and Lauren and they all baked an apple pie together. She allowed Timothy to cut the apples (misshapen slices taste just as good as perfectly cut ones!) and Lauren rolled out the crust. She shared a love of baking, modeled cleanliness by tidying up as they went and showed the children how to hand wash dishes. You can teach that cooking and cleaning is a way to show love! What a blessing it was to watch my sister, who does not have children yet, take the time to pour into my little ones! She caught the vision!

Now, returning from Celebration, is a great time to share fun memories, solid teaching and cleaning… gather your children and fold together or call a buddy and share a favorite lesson learned. Let’s strive, together, to grow in both cleanliness and godliness!! ~ Allie Olsen

Being Busy in the Home

All work and no play makes mom….not fun! While it’s important to do all the things that women do like the cleaning, cooking, laundry it’s also important to take time to have fun. I am writing this as we are getting ready for a big trip and the pressure is on to get everything done. Carson told to me today that I don’t seem very excited about the trip and my response was, “I’ll be excited when I am on the plane.” Oh, dear. I am realizing now how selfish I have been the last couple of days.

In the chaos of our days do we find time to just have fun? I know that I struggle with that most days. As of lately it seems that I am so preoccupied with my schedule or “to-do list” that I forget the joy of getting it done. This would be true also with our upcoming trip. I have forgotten to have fun in the process. So much so that it took my 12 year old son to bring it to my attention. Thank you Lord for loving me and giving me such a great family. Help me to recognize when I care more about the task than the people in my life. Help me to praise you like David did in the Psalms when he said "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song" (Psalm 28:7). Put a new song in my heart and give me the help I need to make it through the day.

I hope that you all find joy and fun in you day today! ~ Sharlyn Eddy

Being Busy in the Home

Remember the phrase “There is no place like home…There is no place like home” that Dorothy quoted in the Wizard of Oz after discovering what was “over the rainbow?” I’m sure many of us have found ourselves saying the same thing at times. I know I have. But would our families echo, “There is no place like home?”

God in His wisdom has mandated that women are to be busy in the home. Titus 2:4-5 encourages the young women to be homemakers (hard workers, working diligently and skillfully in the home)…or home guardians (caregivers and gatekeepers). Scripture also gives examples of godly women who worked in other settings beside their home. But it was never to the neglect of their families and their homes. You see the issue is that home must always remain the constant and ongoing priority in our lives. Our homes and families are to be our primary focus, as well as the primary beneficiaries of our energies and gifts.

Many of us tend to think that working in the home is about cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, and the endless other chores required to maintain a home. Yet in the midst of living life - dressing, eating, sleeping, working, changing diapers, kids doing homework,
watching television, working through conflicts, laughing, tucking children into bed - far more is happening than meets the eye.

While it is clear that we are to be about hard work, I believe the emphasis is not so much on which job a woman does around the house or how she oversees the upkeep of her home. God is not concerned about whether we are crafty or not. He doesn’t dictate whether we have hired help to clean our house or we do it ourselves, whether we bake cookies or buy them at the store, whether we iron our shirts or take them to the cleaners. Every woman has her own style, her own strengths and bents and her own situation to deal with.

The emphasis is really about “focus.” God asks that we focus our gifts and energies on the ministry of the home, to fix our hearts on; to set our sights upon; to think first; to direct our energies toward the home. God is calling us to fix our hearts on our homes with diligence and love. The people who live in our homes are to be our focus. If we create a beautiful museum in which our families cannot live, work or play freely, we have lost our focus. Children need to be able to use glue and scissors. Husbands need to be able to romp on the floor with their kids and teenagers need to be able to bring their friends home. We are to create an inviting atmosphere of love, joy and peace. A place we enjoy and where they will say, “There is no place like home.”

~ Rhonda Calabello

Being Busy in the Home

“You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.” -1 Corinthians 7:23

Now that’s the kind of verse I like to read. Especially on Mondays when I’m particularly busy in our home. Don’t become a slave to men- that’d be Chris and the children. (Can I get away with this train of thought for even a moment? No, I know… not amongst my GCC sisters.) All joking aside, this verse reminds me that I am the Lord’s possession and that He is worthy of my total allegiance.

What does allegiance to God look like in the midst of keeping my home? Total allegiance to God seems abstract for me today. Allegiance while washing and folding laundry and tidying the house from the weekend and guiding the children in their morning duties and then teaching school… serving God in these areas doesn’t feel very overt. But consider this with me for a moment. Where are our hearts more on display than in our own homes? Is there another time when you find your desire to be loving, self-controlled, patient, kind, self-controlled, not irritable or sarcastic (did I mention self-controlled?) more tested than at home? I can’t think of one!! I can handle drivers turning without blinkers, slow lines at Publix, even Starbucks discontinuing decaf Frappucinos! But at home, I am often quick to expect my loved ones to give *ME their allegiance instead of focusing on all of us giving the Lord 100%.

When I grow irritated with Timothy for taking twenty minutes (True story! He’s really slow!) to put his dirty laundry away instead of lovingly training him, I am dishonoring the Lord.

The fam & I read some provoking thoughts in Tabletalk recently. “We must exercise that love that overlooks a multitude of ‘minor’ sins (1 Peter 4:8). As servants in the kingdom of God we must be ever conscious that He takes our treatment of His people seriously; thus, we must do good to them just as we would do good to Him.” They are referring to other believers in the church- but how much more should we put on this love towards our families!

Tabletalk continues, “That we are all servants of the same Lord and master forbids us from ever thinking that certain people or deeds are beneath us. It also means that whatever we do, we must do it unto the Lord with our very best.”

Allegiance to God for me today includes joyfully catching up on laundry. When Andrew spreads his neatly folded pile all over the floor, I must resist the temptation to think that picking it up and folding it again is beneath me. I’ve been bought with a price! My Lord and Saviour purchased me- not on my own merit- and I will try to extend a bit of this love to my family as we do our Monday chores together. Today, I’ll “strive always to serve the Lord in humility and with a true love for other believers...” starting with my family. ~ Allie Olsen

Being Busy in the Home

“Jesus is coming back soon. Look busy.” That bumper sticker caught my eye and made me laugh a few years ago. As if Jesus is some incompetent supervisor, easily fooled by frantic activity that looks productive on the outside.

How often do I appear busy to others, when I’m really just “spinning my wheels?” As women, we are called to be busy at home. Does this mean non-stop activity? Color-coded daily schedules? Filling up every moment with productive work?

The irony of our spiritual life is that to be fruitfully busy at anything, we need to first be quiet in our heart. Without quiet hearts, our days feel more like duty than delight...and joy is hard to find.

My boys know better. They can sense when my heart is frantic. I suspect to them it looks a lot like impatience, defensiveness and anger.

The gospel teaches that busyness before quietness is probably self-reliance. Self-reliance says I don’t need God. But, I do. Every moment – every day – I need Him. We all do. ~ Adrea Thomas

Being Busy In The Home

It’s that time of year again. The end of summer is upon us and children have gone back to school. For many of us this tends to be a busy time. There have been book bags and new shoes to buy that made that first day back special. And if you home school there was new curriculum to choose and pencils to be sharpened. If you have little ones you are probably trying to figure out what you’ll be doing in the near future. Maybe you don’t have children yet but have nieces and nephews or sisters and brothers. You know just how busy it can be too and at times it can be overwhelming and the smallest of tasks seem to be put aside for another day.

As women we are called to manage our home. Titus 2:5 says...to be busy at home. But how do we manage our home in the midst of a busy season? It can definitely be crazy at times, right? Martha Peace says this in her book The Excellent Wife: A godly wife is organized and works hard to operate her home with the least possible chaos. She also creates an optimistic, joyful atmosphere for her family.

Part of a joyful home is, well lets face it, a clean home. And some of us have different likes or dislikes in this area. One of you may love to cook rather than clean and one would rather do the cleaning than do the laundry. Whatever the differences are one thing is for sure: Whether we work in the home or outside the home we are called to be busy in the home.

These are some things that we’re going to look at every Monday. So grab a cup of coffee or tea and join us as we learn to be workers in the home together. ~ Sharlyn Eddy