Monday, April 19, 2010

Building Your Home


This past weekend we had the privalege to be part of a mini-ladies retreat. I must admit it was a huge effort for me to get there and to be apart of it, but after being there it was a huge blessing! I am so thankful that I made all the effort to reschedule my English classes,  the boys schedule and took the train to get to the nearby city where it was held.

The theme was "Building up or Tearing down". Centered around how we as wives, moms, and daughters can build our homes for God´s glory. Not just the physical things like cleaning up the house and keeping it in order, but the spiritual side of edifying - or building up each member of your family. This hit home so hard that it was very difficult for me to resist tears. By the end of the second session, I was in tears.

If you are anything like me, you want it all done right "yesterday". I want my home organized, pretty, and running smoothly, but this doesn´t happen very often. It´s only by the grace of God that our homes run smoothly and when we are not connected to His power and strength it doesn´t happen at all. By the time we find ourselves running on empty, we finally stop and ask why. Why isn´t it running as smoothy as it did once before? We know the basics, so what is failing?  I think, these kind of evaluations are so neccesary even if you have done them before and continue to struggle, we need to keep getting back to the Power Source.

Building up our children is an area that we need continual work on. I know I do at least. The last session delt mostly with getting our house in order in our relationship to God, and our Family. The second relationship in the family that is so difficult and that is changing all the time is our relationship with our children.
Here are just a few of the points -
Mothers to your children-

  • love them  and make them know you love them (Titus 2:4)

  • Teach them (Deut. 6:6-7)

  • Correct and train them  (Hebrews 12:11)

  • Take care of them

  • Don´t anger them, Don´t take away their hope (Ephesians 6:4, Col.3:21)
There is so much to share, but this last point is key. All the other points, are ruined if there is anger. If we make excuses for our wrong behavior, how can we expect our children to behave correctly. If we are nagging and nagging without giving them hope of doing it right, they will give up. They won´t try to please us anymore, instead they will rebel. Oh, that we leave our children with the hope that the Lord Jesus has given us. That we are His children and we are made perfect in Him if we have accepted Him as Savior.

I was overwhelmed at how far we really are from the "Biblical Ideal"  I thought there is no way we can attain this level of order, but that is exactly what Satan would have us to believe. That we have failed and it is impossible to be perfect. During that last session on Saturday, it dawned on me that having discipline and order in our spiritual life is just like fitness and getting in shape physically. It doesn´t happen over night, of course. It takes training. You can give up on it and go backwards (getting fat and out of shape) or you can keep exercising what you know from the Word of God and keep on. So, I drew up a plan, made a list of things I wanted to change, and started to pray. I need to see it in action. It has to be visual or it won´t work.

Let´s keep building our home and keeping it in order not only the physical, but also the relationships within our home.



***Linking up with Making Your Home Sing Monday***

12 comments:

  1. Oh Dani Joy...I too am glad you were able to make all the necessary changes for you to be a part of the ladies retreat. God is so good and so merciful. He drew you away, although it was while kicking and screaming just a bit, so that He could have your undivided attention. He needed to talk to you.

    Thank you for your post. It's only confirmed in me what God began doing last week. Showing me the areas in which I need to be a better Mom.

    God is Faithful....Praise His Name.

    Lets start "training" together in this area as well!

    Love you sweetie...have a great week!

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  2. So true, Nina! WE are in this together for sure! You are a huge, huge blessing to me and lifting each other up has been so vital! Thank you!!!
    Love you, girl!

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  3. I am SO glad you went to this...because you went and were touched and then shared with the rest of us mommys...and we are now touched. Touched enough to be moved to put those thoughts you shared into action. Thank you...I have much work to do.

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  4. So glad you got to go on the trip,& get such a blessing,
    I to need to do better in my home as a mom,
    love you

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  5. Aren't you glad you went? The Lord had this beautiful thing just for you!

    I loved what you said "If we are nagging and nagging without giving them hope of doing it right, they will give up."

    When the kids were young, I know there were times that I nagged them to much, and I could see that what they really needed was to be encouraged and given hope. There are times they still need that now!

    Thanks for reminding us of this, and thanks for linking up today!

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  6. I'm glad you went and received a blessing Dani Joy!

    I could improve in so many areas. Thank you for prompting us my friend.

    Bless you!
    Beth

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  7. Thank you for going my friend! Thank you for going so you could encourage us. I know this is an area I need to work on in my life. I want to live by the Father's leading and build my house. Thanks for that great reminder today. Take care my friend!

    Oh & guess what? I get to go to my church's women's retreat this weekend. Can't wait!

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  8. So glad you got to go and that you got and gave blessings I'm sure.

    Great post and wonderful for the missionary wife!

    BTW, I dropped out of your healthy blog but I wanted you to know how busy I am, walked 10 miles in 3 days. Yea me!

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  9. That was a wonderful post! It is so exciting when God works in our hearts and lives.
    Doesn't it seem that when we need something the most, the devil will fight us being there to get what we need. Over the past few months, I have felt a real need to pray. I feel that if my spiritual life is what it should be, that it will drastically help me with the physical. Not only the spiritual and physical, but it will help in all areas of life and ministsry.

    "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little, but godliness is profitable to all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
    I Timothy 4: 7-8
    How I need this!

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  10. Thank you ladies! What a blessing you are! So great to hear how you too are in the same battle. God is giving us strength.

    Kristy, thank you for that verse. and Yes, I totally agree. Prayer is something I so quickly let go when there isn´t time, but what we can´t afford to let go.

    Big hugs Ladies,
    Dani Joy

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  11. Hello, my name is Ron

    I'm a Christian blogger and I found your profile on another blog that I follow. I added myself to follow your blog. You are more than welcome to visit my blog and become a follower if you want to.

    God Bless You

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  12. Oh, my friend, you don't know how much this spoke to me!! I have been snapping at my kids so much lately, and I know it's because I have not been in the Word everyday!!!!!!!

    Thank you so much for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so glad you did!

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Love to hear encouraging comments that uplift Christ and boost our daily walk with Him! Thanks for taking the time to comment! I read everyone of them and try to always respond at your blog, too.