Beans and Cornbread for the King

Being the keeper at home and occupying our God-given role as the weaker vessel sure offers us ladies an abundance of security. Our husband has the task of providing for our family. That is no light load to carry. Are you grateful for that? Do you thank God for your hard-working husband and for the provision he brings in? You should!

As homemakers, we don’t carry that heavy load, but we can help make it lighter and more bearable in many ways. That’s part of what being a help meet is about. Are you cautious with your expenditures? Do you pinch your pennies? Do you watch for sales and then stock up? Do you cook at home as much as possible? Simple meals are ok. Not every meal needs be extravagant. In fact, many men favor those basic, meat and potato type meals they grew up on. It’s comfort food. Coming home to a home-cooked meal served by a loving wife after a long, hard day can do so much for their morale. Even if all you have is beans and cornbread, serve him up like he’s a king in his palace! This not only fuels their bodies but it boosts their spirits too…it gives them a sense of purpose and helps them to keep pushing onward.

Other ways you can be of help is to keep a positive and happy attitude. Try not to complain. This does nothing but beat your husband down and may make him feel like he’s a lousy provider. Let him know you trust in him. Be a place of refuge for him in a dog-eat-dog world. No man wants to come home to a worried, nagging wife after putting in a hard days work just to make ends meet. Be his safe place. Let him unwind and unload if he needs to while you patiently listen. Take your worries and concerns to the Lord in prayer.

Remember, the woman typically sets the tone in the home. So let’s work to keep it happy and peaceful for everyone’s sake, especially for the king of our palace!

Mrs. Garcia

“The Lord is my…”

“The Lord is my…”. We commonly recite such scripture as the 23rd Psalm that begins with those very words. We also offer these words up in song declaring who God is and what He means to us personally.

So, I got a notion to conduct a search in the King James Version of the Holy Bible of that exact phrase to see what results it would turn up. I knew the Bible was full of such phrases and I thought it would be nice to have a list to refer to.

I found the results very interesting and highly encouraging! I will share them below in hopes that it has the same impact on you!

*Exodus 15:2 – “THE LORD IS MY strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

*2 Samuel 22:2 – “And he said, THE LORD IS MY rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;”

*Psalm 18:2 – “THE LORD IS MY rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

*Psalm 23:1 – “THE LORD IS MY shepherd; I shall not want.”

*Psalm 27:1 – “THE LORD IS MY light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

*Psalm 28:7 – “THE LORD IS MY strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”

*Psalm 94:22 – “But THE LORD IS MY defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.”

*Psalm 118:14 – “THE LORD IS MY strength and song, and is become my salvation.”

*Lamentations 3:24 – “THE LORD IS MY portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”

*Zechariah 13:9 – “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, THE LORD IS MY God.”

*Hebrews 13:6 – “So that we may boldly say, THE LORD IS MY helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

(All emphasis mine)

Search the Scriptures

I conducted this search online at kingjamesbibleonline.org for easy reference and then looked up each verse one by one in my own personal Bible.

May it richly bless you!

Mrs. G

Busy at Home: Weekly Housework Schedule

At certain times in the past I have followed a housework schedule. It was something random I made up that fit our particular household needs and family schedule. It resembled something like the ladies of the past used to do: Monday: Wash, Tuesday: Iron, Wednesday:  Dust, Thursday: Market, Friday: Mend, Saturday: Bake, Sunday: Church.

As of recent I haven’t followed any schedule and I’ve been finding myself off task. I am the type of person that needs routine. I am not one that likes or does well with change. While doing the same thing over and over may seem redundant for many, it is actually calming for me. Knowing what I have to do, what lies ahead, is a huge stress relief for me. I like to wake up knowing what needs to be done that day and set out to accomplish it. I find if I write out a daily to do list those things typically get accomplished in a timely fashion. On the other hand, when I don’t write those things out, I tend to lollygag throughout the day. I start one task, get distracted and lay it aside, start another, then go back to the first one! That can get a little crazy! Ha! Surely I’m not the only one that does this!

So to keep myself on track I think I’m going to start my weekly cleaning schedule back up. This helps me stay focused and keep a handle on things around here. It motivates me to tackle my chores right off the bat. Once my daily “to-do’s” are done I can keep right on going, but if something else happens to come up at least I can rest easy knowing I accomplished my main chore for the day.

There is great benefit in keeping a clean and tidy home. For one, it makes you feel better. Have you ever let the housework slip (for whatever reason: sick, outside demands, etc) and you begin to feel like the walls are closing in on you??!! It’s really stressing! As a bonus, you don’t have to worry about unexpected guests! You know company always arrives when you’ve been the least productive! It’s like a rule! Haha!! But most importantly, if I’m working for the Master here at home, then I should take pride in my work. This is part of my service to my family He has so graciously blessed me with. It shows I care. A labor of love.

Here is what my days will looks like.. Each day has a designated chore. There is always more to do but this gives me a guideline of the minimum I need to accomplish each day. Of course there is also the daily upkeep such as making beds, laundry (I do a load a day minimum to keep the laundry from piling up), dishes, cooking meals, daily tidying, etc. Ironing is also on my to do list but it does not have a designated day. This list is just meant to be motivational and a tool to help me focus on my daily tasks.

My goal each day is to have these things done before the children come in from school. The afternoon goes much better if I am available for them when they are home. They come in “starving” and looking for a snack and typically need help with homework. I like to make myself available. It tends to get stressful when I’m preoccupied with other things at this time of day. So this just makes for a smooth operation of the household. So without further ado, My Weekly Housework Schedule:

MONDAY: Vacuum, Sweep, Mop

TUESDAY: Clean Bathrooms

WEDNESDAY: Clean Kitchen (Include refrigerator)

THURSDAY: Wash Bedding/Grocery Shopping (I shop every 2 weeks so the shopping will alternate weeks with the washing of bedding)

FRIDAY: Dust

SATURDAY: Light housework as needed only (This day can be better spent relaxing and enjoying family)

SUNDAY: Church/Rest

Do you follow a cleaning schedule? If so, does it help you?

If not, would you like to join me? We can encourage and motivate each other!

Please share!

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” ~ Colossians 3:23

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” ~ Ecclesiastes 9:10

Blessings,

Mrs. G

Wednesday Hymns-Day: Down to the River to Pray

River Baptisms

The exact origin of this song is unknown. It has also been called by other titles, to include: “Down in the River to Pray”, “Down in the Valley to Pray”, “The Good Old Way” and “Come, Let Us All Go Down”. It is described as a Christian folk hymn, Appalachian song, gospel song and an African- American spiritual. This song was often sung at outdoor baptisms in the good old days.

Please watch this video of what used to be common place:

This is our Christian American heritage. One of faith in the Almighty. This is the path our ancestors walked. We have veered so far from this straight and narrow path to the broad, destructive one. We live in the day of a prosperity preachin’, watered-down-gospel. Can you imagine what our world would look like if the “good ol’ way” was the norm again?…Tent revivals and river baptisms…souls being won for the Lord!

Billy Graham (borrowed from Wheaton.edu)

America needs another Great Awakening. I think it’s high time.

What say you? Ready to study that “Good Ol’ Way”?

Blessings,

Mrs. G

A Word to the Younger Women

In line with my last post to the older Christian women, today I want to talk about the younger women.

We have a duty as well. If Titus 2 says the older women are to be “reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—“ in order to teach the younger women to “love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands” then we have an obligation as well.

If the older women are those above mentioned things then we as younger ladies are to become those things. Now granted, that does not happen overnight, but the responsibility lies within us. Yes we need the older woman and her godly example but we, younger ladies, must be willing to learn, be open to rebuke and exhortation so that we too can be molded into that Titus 2 older woman.

The older women have no easy task. The world is working against them. The world is telling us younger women especially to live loosely; there’s no need to marry, but if you do marry, please do not submit to that man of yours, he just wants to control you. Children? Sure have ‘em, but not too many, and then ship ‘em off for someone else to raise. Divorce is more common than staying married and it’s always the other person’s fault don’tcha know. Discreet and chaste are so unheard of that it’s not even funny. Belligerent, dominant women are everywhere you turn. They feel empowered and cringe at the word ‘submission’. Little do they know that true biblical submission is a beautiful thing.  Yes, older women definitely have their work cut out for them. But the load does not fall on their shoulders alone.  Younger women have their own part to do as well.

I’ve heard it said that most older women don’t reach out because most younger women are not willing to listen and do not desire to be taught. Younger women think they have all the answers these days. Google has replaced a good old fashioned conversation or telephone call.

Younger women, let’s face it. We need help. There is always room to grow and learn. We don’t know it all. There will always be someone a little farther down the road than us that’s a little more seasoned. Their assistance and insight is invaluable. Let’s humble ourselves and yield ourselves to godly teaching in order that we too can teach those younger than us.

Why? “So the Word of God be not blasphemed”. There is no wonder the world despises Christians. We preach what others should be doing yet we are not doing it ourselves. We should look drastically different than the world.

What do you say?

We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us!

Blessings,

Mrs. G

A Plea to the Older Christian Women

Listen closely older women. Can you hear the cries? Listen just a little closer…

You were called to a highly important task. One that is very much needed in this day and age. We are in a day where the majority of homes sit empty all day and divorce is at an all time high. You, older Christian woman, are needed indeed.

Titus 2:4-5 tells the older women that they should train the younger women to “love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed”.  But where are all these women to be found? Are they just too busy? Do they even exist anymore?

The younger women are searching. We need guidance; sound biblical guidance. We know what the world wants from us. The world would have us abandon our homes, leave our children to be raised by someone else and run from our husbands’ “dominating grips”. The devil himself is waiting like a lion to devour our homes. But we are fighting it. And we could most assuredly use your help. We are deep in the battle and we holler out, but it often seems no one is there to hear our battle cry. Take our hand. Allow us to learn from somebody that’s been through the battle and has emerged victoriously.

Show us by your godly example…how to love our husbands, how to respectfully submit to this earthly headship that God put in place. Show us to be discreet; cautious in our conduct, our temperament and our dress. Teach us to be chaste; pure in thought and in our actions. Teach us to be at home and to love our home by placing a high priority on your own home by caring for all who enter there and even extending your loving assistance to the younger women within your sphere of life. Exemplify what godly submission of a wife to her husband should look like, respecting and esteeming your own husband above all others.

Whether you know it or not, we desperately need your example.

Will you take our out stretched hands and lead us up out of the trenches and on to victory in Jesus? We are desperately waiting…

Blessings,

Mrs. G

Homemakers Working for the Master

Oh dear, sweet fellow homemakers. I too hear the whispers. The sneers and snide remarks. I too see the judgment in their eyes.

Have you oft times felt defeated? Or worthless? As if we had no value whatsoever? Like what we do here in and for our earthly homes is of no use at all? Anybody could do this, right? Wrong!

Since when was it decided that homemaking (being a wife and mother) is no longer one of the noblest of callings? Why are women leaving their homes in droves? Why are the most important things being forsaken? Is there no longer any value in training children up for God’s kingdom? Is there no longer any worth in making a house into a home; making it a refuge from this cold and bitter world? Should our homes not be a foretaste of Heaven? A place to escape the evils of this world if not just for a little while? A place of calm and rest…a place to rejuvenate our weary souls.

Nowhere does scripture encourage women to seek careers that would take all their time and devotion away from home. Our homes deserve more than leftovers.  God himself, through His word, has called us to be homemakers, keepers AT home. (See Titus 2)

Let’s stop believing the death-breathing lies of the devil and start believing instead the living, life-breathing word of God. Let’s overcome those feelings of worthlessness, trampling them with His holy word and replacing the lies with the Truth.

A paycheck will never replace what can be done for the glory of the Lord within our own four walls. That is our ministry first and foremost ladies. The one God entrusted us with.  How can we impact the world for Christ if we have yet to impact the dear souls residing in our own home? Daily, deep in the trenches of everyday life, we must take up our cross and give it our all. Refute the feminist lies that tell us in order to have any value we need a title or degree that will earn us a good living.  Let us instead labor for the Master. Our reward is in Heaven. All we do, do for Him.

Blessings,

Mrs. G

Erasing Permanent Marker & My Frugal Thrift Store Creation

I love to rummage through thrift stores! Especially ones that have leftover craft supplies and fabric remnants! I could spend all day looking through this stuff! When my children are in tow they quickly bore of looking at those things, but I am typically in thrifty, crafting heaven!

Although I love coming home with my inexpensive treasures, I loathe when the store prices the item with permanent marker! Most places write the price with a dry-erase type marker or red marking pencil that you can almost rub off with your finger. But one store I frequent writes in permanent maker and it is a pain to remove!

  

I recently drug out a few of my thrift store finds in attempt to create something! Lo and behold there was that nuisance permanent marker on my hurricane glass and platter! So, I took to google (whom I have a love/hate relationship with!) to find a solution to my irritating problem! I found a myriad of solutions to removing permanent marker. Some were more involved than others. I wanted something simple that used items I had on hand. I was not about to go out and buy something to remove it!

  

One tip I came across said if working with a non porous surface try erasing the marker with a pencil eraser! I thought, no way!! That would be too easy. And besides, it’s permanent. Don’t I need some type of skin-leeching chemical?!! (Haha!) I decided I would give this overly simple solution a try. And would you believe, it worked!!! Simple as pie!!!

I just grabbed a pencil and started erasing! The marker started to disappear right before my very eyes! Maybe I love in a bubble and y’all already knew this! But for those like me, I just had to share this helpful tip! Can you tell I’m excited about it??!! Haha!! 🙂

Here is what I made with my goodies! A Christmas Platter Centerpiece. The doo-dads I added here were all found in the trash! My neighbor put out a bunch of “junk” before moving and I went through it and got what I wanted! So this only cost me $4.00 to make. Whatcha think?

Changes…

I had been extra busy lately preparing for a craft show. My apologies for no “Frugal Friday” post last week. That has left me thinking though. What do I want to do with this blog?

While I enjoy the writing and the sharing, it has added extra stress to prepare posts for certain days. I for one do not deal well with stress and try to avoid it like the plague! Not only that, I’m probably not very pleasant to be around when I’m that stressed!

So, to remedy this situation I will no longer set certain days for posts (such as hymns on Wednesday and frugal things on Friday). Instead, I will write as time allows and post accordingly. That will relieve the pressure yet still allow me to blog 🙂

I feel that my family and home life comes first and foremost. I do not want that to suffer because I HAVE to put out a blog post. I hope you kind folks will understand.

I also want to be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading in the direction I should go and sharing what’s on my heart. It is still my desire to share hymns and frugal tips with you, but it will no longer be on a rigid schedule!

I am wanting to make my home as calm and stress free as possible. A refuge from this crazy, busy world.

I hope you’ll stick around as I hash things out and find what works for me.

Blessings,

Mrs. G

If you’d like to check out my crafting page I’d be much obliged!!

http://www.facebook.com/craftinhousewife

Wednesday Hymns-Day: Amazing Grace

To kick things off I figured I might as well start off with one of the most well-known and beloved hymns of all time: Amazing Grace.

I’d venture to say there’s nary a soul who hasn’t heard this precious hymn at least once in their life. It was penned by John Newton and published in 1779. He was a slave trader who was later saved by God’s amazing grace!

This song provokes different emotions for different people. It also may arouse many different memories; some sweet, some sad. I recall sweet memories of my grandmother beautifully singing this tune as well as it being played at my great grandmother’s funeral amidst many tears.

“Amazing grace!

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but, now am found;

Was blind, but now I see.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been quite a wretched mess. Thankfully, I’ve been saved by God’s grace. His beautiful, amazing grace and perfect timing have saved my soul from an eternal hell.

Do you like this hymn?

Have you experienced God’s amazing grace?

If not, would you like to?

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not or yourselves: it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” ~ Ephesians 2:8-9

Please watch this moving video! Tells of the origins of this song and how it was written! Watch all the way through. Really listen. It gives me goosebumps!!