...of reflections

Over At the Well, today's topic is about our homes being an extension of who we are. Chelsey, Joyfully Living For His Glory, made quite a few sober points that caused me to reflect on some of the decisions that Anton and I have made concerning decorating our home.

Celebrating Christmas by setting a nativity scene in the front yard, wreaths on the door, or an elaborately decorated evergreen tree does not happen in our home. This decision was made because it dawned on me that we did not put nearly as much effort into our Christianity, who we are EVERYDAY, as we did into preparing for a day that is recognized once a year.

We celebrate the means of our salvation every Sunday by taking communion, but what preparations do we make for this celebration. Would anyone know this about us from our atmosphere

I refuse to have someone come into our home and recognize what sports team we root for, who our "favorite" entertainers are, which cartoon characters our kids prefer, or any other thing that does not reflect our proclamation of being the LORD'S servants.

Further Reading

...of courage

I just realized that encourage, has the word courage in it. This morning, in my prayer journal, (paraphrasing), I entered that I utilize the courage that God has given me to speak up for my husband when I'm in a situation where someone is not speaking properly of him and/or when others are bashing their husbands.

Well, hours later, I come to bloggy-world and find that the majority of those I follow, topics are about positively speaking of husbands! I thought, "Wow, this is such an enCouragement in response to my prayer this morning! WOW, God, You are awesome!!!" Then it hit me, "Whoa, enCourage has courage in it! This is too funny Lord! You have enCouraged me using my Sisters by having them show me their courage in the exact same area I had just talked to You about!!! This is so not real, WOW!"

I realize that this is my first opportunity to utilize that courage. How great of God to not just "throw me out there" right away. He has provided a safe place of enCouragement for me to begin. Thanks so much God. You just keep being very merciful to me and I so do not deserve it, thank You for caring about me.

At the Well, we are encouraged to publicly thank God for our husbands:

-Lord God, thank You for making me Anton's help meet. He really is an awesome husband.

-I am thankful that Anton expresses agape love for me.

-Thank You Lord for his sincere desire to be the man You created him to be, he does not run from responsibility.

-I am also thankful that Anton is not ashamed to confess his wrongs and ask for forgiveness, he is honest with me.

-Anton's quest to be like You Father also gets my thanks, he is a wonderful example of a person living for You, Lord God, and I am thankful.

-Our children express no concern for their security because of Anton, thank You Lord.

-Most of all, I thank You God that Anton boldly professes that he is Your creation.

-Lord, I am thankful that Anton is genuinely concerned about my and our children's spiritual path. He prays with and for us Lord and talks with us about Your word, praise God!

In Christs' name, Amen.

...of At the Well

Patty is graciously hosting today's discussion At the Well. She wants to know what we have to share on persistence. Patty asks us to think about our daily lives as a wife, mother and child of God, then answer these questions:

1. What are some ways that you have persisted when you have been knocked down?

• When I decide to get out of the bed in the morning, in spite of "yesterday's" consuming feelings of inadequacy & failure as a wife, mother and Christian, I have persisted. Disclaimer: Anton, "Evelyn", "Cameron" nor "Janelle", has communicated these things to me. This beating comes from me. I place unrealistic expectations on myself because I attempt to compare myself to others and foolishly try to live up to their expectations!

2. How have these circumstances brought glory to the Father?

• Need I really write this out? Glory has not been given to Father because of me. Instead, I may have even "scared" someone, or two ;), away because of my "Why me" attitude although my "frantic" life is my fault!

What about you?

...of validation

I have been validated!!! Validation feels G-R-E-A-T!

I was visiting the Well today and read about meal planning. Jennifer talked about planning your menu monthly for various reasons. I will not spoil it for you in case you want to read it for yourself but I will mention my reasons.

A little over a year and a half ago, Anton and I began financial counseling with a Sister at our last duty station. For our grocery budget, she suggested that we follow a consistent menu. We were wasting food. I would decide to have a salad with dinner let's say on Tuesday. Then I would cook again on Wednesday but have a totally different meal than the previous night. So to get to my point, whatever salad was leftover just sat in the fridge and wilted, because of course we did not eat it on Thursday either.

I thought that I had to cook every night to be a productive keeper of our home. I was not being so productive by wasting food! So per Sister "Sober's" advice, I began, after trial and error, planning our menu monthly. This has allowed a significant decrease in our grocery spending. For example, for one entire month, we have spaghetti every Monday, leftovers on Tuesday, Chicken & rice on Wednesday and so on. We have not been as wasteful, but now I plan to have salad with the next meal so that it will not go bad.

I have been questioned about my meal planning and I was beginning to think that I was doing something sooooo weird. HA! But I'm not weird...I'm validated!!! Thanks Jennifer

...of That Where I Am You May Be Also

At the Well's discussion today is hosted by Sherry from Large Family Mothering. What I got from her post is the attitude towards motherhood. Sherry asks these questions:

Are there areas of hardness and coldness in my life?
Yes.

What are the roots of these?
My own selfish desires, James 4:1-3

Do I need to release someone who has hurt me in my past?
Yes.

Do I need to confess and release myself from the bondage of sinful patterns in my own life?
Yes, selfishness.

What are some ways that I can turn the conversation around when other women begin to gripe and complain about their children?
With a smile and gentleness, I can redirect the conversation to positivity by sharing something good about our children and what a blessing they are intended to be, Psalm 127:3-5

Name some creative ways we can create warmer, more inviting environments for our children.
I can get rid of my, "What about me?" attitude!

Sherry's contribution At the Well recalled the following words from my journal back in May of 2008. At this time I was feeling like a failure as a Christian, wife, and mother. It is titled, "1/8":

If I were an eighth of the woman God created me to be...
-My faith would be firm. I wouldn't pray for things, doubt, and then get upset that God isn't answering another prayer to replace the original one!
-I'd be my husband's friend. I wouldn't be judgemental, critical, conveying a dislike for him or seemingly ungrateful. He would trust his heart w/me, Proverbs 31:11-12. Anton would always have confidence in my love for him. He would like me.
-My kids would like me. They would be my friends as well.
-I wouldn't feel alone. Well, I would believe that I'm not alone.
-I would be reliable.
-"Why me?" would be removed from my vocabulary.
-I'd already be "dead to self," 1 Corinthians 15:31.
-I'd trust Anton.
-I would be forgiving, merciful, the image of my Creator as He created me to be and not trying to be what I want to be or who I think I should be. WHO AM I TO TELL MY MAKER HOW HE DIDN'T MAKE ME?!
-I would "get out of my own way."
-I'd be happy, joyful, in Jesus.
-I'd be worthy of a fight.
-I would be thankful of the Lord's discipline.
-I'd be the woman God intends for me to be.
If I were only 1/8, or working towards that...

I copied that verbatim from my journal so I know it needs some work, but I wanted to share it in its' raw form.

...of At the Well-The Heart of Titus 2

Today is the grand opening of, "At the Well." Here are the questions for today's discussion:



When you read the Scripture found in Titus 2: 2-5, how do you see this playing out in your own life?

I don't see it playing out. Applying these things are hard for me because when I try, with the knowledge I have, it seems that I fail or could have done better.

What are your areas of strength? Of weakness?

My area of strength is that I know I have work to do and that I am open to being mentored. The area of weakness is giving up when I do not meet the expectations, based on other women's progress, that I have set for myself.

If you could set some sort of goal in relation to this Scripture, what would it be?

Living out the expectations God has set for me, thereby, providing my daughters with a proper example to fashion themselves after.