Tuesday 30 October 2018

Approved Unto God


Homemaking Mondays: Approved Unto God

As we've been going through some passages in Titus, Timothy, and Proverbs...a reoccurring theme has come up.  That is our focus needs not be ourselves, or our families, or our homes.  Our focus needs to be the Lord Jesus Christ.  

We can do all what we can, and then one day we'll burn out because we are attempting to create a home without the Lord being the focus.  We need to seek out His company,  His direction, and His strength to be good homemakers.  
We find lessons all through scripture and we need to study things out to know the truth.  We need to put things in context, and understand the whole picture.   
We need to study God's word, taking time each day to feed on the word.  It's the bread of life...it's just as important as regular food for our stomachs.

Matthew 4:4
"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

2 Timothy 3:16-17
" All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
The Bible is God's word, we need nourishment from it and it's not going to come by osmosis.  We need to read it and have others speak it to us.  

Feeling a bit discouraged, or overwhelmed... take it to the Lord and spend some time with Him.  Open your Bible and get some nourishment to be strengthened.  Sometimes it takes a bit of chewing on to get the full benefit of it.

I know that life is sometimes very full and sitting down on one's own for any period of time is at times an immense challenge.  I have found that even just leaving my Bible open on the counter and reading some verses as I pass by gives me nourishment.  Then by the end of the day it is surprising how much I've been able to feed on throughout the day.  Sometimes a dictionary is needed to understand some words.  Take time to look things up.  Part of studying is not just reading...but doing a bit of digging.  Mulling it over and meditating on it's meanings.

Reading to the kids as they eat, or reading verses that are displayed throughout the home (or sharing what you are reading) also gives them nourishment as well.  We have a family Bible time each evening that my husband leads us in.  

I know that many people focus on the hands on aspects of homemaking (and that is an important part of our time).  We all need older women in our lives to help us learn the skills of homemaking (Titus 2:5 referring to Keepers at Home).  Being a keeper at home doesn't mean that we follow all the fads of homemaking out there...but just that we learn what the needs of our home are and the best way to met them.

There is another layer added when it's an older Christian woman that is teaching.  They add the spiritual nourishment.  It's not just how to clean, or following a recipe out of the cookbook.  Helping to point out the eternal value in all that we do in the everyday keeping of our homes.  They share the scriptures as they do.
They help us with training our children in righteousness, in loving our husbands with respectful submission, and in doing the everyday practical needs with joy and a servants heart.
Teaching how to create a home where the Lord is glorified, our families needs are met both in a carnal earthly way, but also in an eternal way as well.

In a christian home, things of eternal value are integrated in all that we do and say.
We need to rest in the Lord each day for only through Him can our homes glorify Him.  Through all of this....it'll lead us back to being approved until God.  The Word when it is alive in your life, it'll be alive in your home as well.  When the Holy Spirit of Truth is leading you, everything becomes clearer...even the everyday needs of the home.

Love and Prayers,
Jennifer


2 comments:

Christine said...

This sentence really stuck me, "The Bible is God's word, we need nourishment from it and it's not going to come by osmosis." This is so true!
Great post!

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

Wonderful thoughts about the Word, Jennifer! I like how you leave your Bible open and just pass by and read a verse or two as your day goes by. That's a wonderful way to absorb the Word, and think about it throughout the day! It is such a blessing for your family that your husband takes the time as well to spend with the family reading the Word together. The family that prays together, stays together :) May the Lord bless all you do in your home for His glory! Hugs :)