The Stay-at-Home Missionary

Say Goodbye....

2011-10-07T17:19:00.000-07:00

Just a few more days and this blog will be going away forever. BUT, I will be moving lots of the posts over to my new site, Grace Full Mama.

So, if you haven't already, now is the time to follow me over there! Subscribe to Grace Full Mama so you don't miss anything!

Blessings!

It's Time!!!!

2011-09-28T01:29:00.000-07:00

After a long wait, it is finally time to unveil the new site!! Oh, I am so excited!

It's called Grace Full Mama!

I want all of you to join me over there! The official launch day is next Monday, October 3rd, and there will be lots of fun, excitement, and giveaways!

But don't wait till then, head on over now and subscribe and take a look around! You can also join the Grace Full Mama Facebook page here.

Thank you for all of your support!

See you there!!

Give Grace in Little Ways

2011-09-13T04:05:00.000-07:00

I’m a do-er. A quick, throw your shoes on and out the door kind of gal. Forget the mess on the floor. Did I check the oven to see that it was turned off? Not sure. Is the door locked? No idea. That’s me. My personality.

Come visit me at The Better Mom to hear the rest of this story!

In other news, I am just *days* away from announcing my new site. Stay tuned! It will be worth the wait!

New Launch Date! I'm So Excited!!

2011-08-26T17:59:00.000-07:00

Well, launching a whole new blog with a new design, learning Wordpress, and figuring out lots of little details is taking longer that I thought. I want everything to be all pretty and ready when I reveal it!

SO, my new official launch date for the new blog is Monday, October 3rd. I am working hard to get it all ready for you, and I can't tell you how excited I am about it!

If you will just wait with me for a few more days, I will give you all of the exciting information soon!! My heart is full as I feel that I am doing *exactly* what the Lord wants me to do! That is a truly refreshing feeling!

Can't wait! {wow, I like to use lots of exclamation points, don't I?!}

Blessings,

In the Meantime.....

2011-08-08T22:45:00.000-07:00

Updates are coming soon! In the meantime......

How many times have you been at the computer muttering, uh-huh, yep, okay to your child only to realize that you haven’t listened to a single word they said? They could have said, “Mom, I’m going to get the sharpest knife you have in the kitchen, then I am going to go run around while holding the knife, ok?!” To which you just said, “Yep, okay honey, have fun.” Sadly, I am so guilty of this!

In this day and age, our lives are lived at warp speed. As mommies, we have no choice but to become experts at multi-tasking. The thing is, in my opinion, we aren’t very good at it. We live out our days only half-engaged at best. Our children deserve more. They deserve all of our attention and our very best attention.

Ok, that’s just great, you think. What is the solution?

Come on over to The Better Mom to read the rest!

Blessings,

Drumroll Please.......

2011-08-04T04:50:00.000-07:00

I am SO excited to tell you that I am starting blogging again, AND I am starting a whole new blog with a new name!

Why? You say? Well, since leaving blogging six months ago, the Lord has really worked in my heart.

Through the support and encouragement of my husband (he rocks!) and a mentor in my life, I have realized that blogging is my art, my way to worship the Lord with what He has given me. However, I have always felt a little sheepish, a little unsure in this big blogging world.

When I looked around, I felt overwhelmed by what others were doing, and feeling like I couldn't keep up. Looking at others. That was my problem. And, instead of being thankful for who God made me, I was feeling defeated because I felt like I didn't measure up. But no more. God has given me a song to sing, and I am going to sing it!! It may not be the best song, but it is the one HE put in me!

He has given me a clear vision for a new blog, as well as some great time management ideas to balance a blog while being a devoted wife and mother. While I love The Stay at Home Missionary, I am excited to expand and grow my ideas even more through a new site. The content will be much the same, it will simply have a different look and name.

What is it? I can't reveal that just yet....but hang tight, I will let you know very soon!!

The official launch of the new blog will be on September 15th, but I will let you know more details in just a few days. Stay tuned!!

I want you to know that I am so thankful for each and every one of you. You have been such an encouragement to me through your emails these past months. I am truly blessed. Thank you.

A Can of Rice

2011-01-07T14:09:00.000-08:00

We stayed in a village with a name the rolls off your tongue, Buduk Kubul.

The people were warm, friendly, unassuming. They grow rice. Their lives ebb and flow around Panen {the harvest}.

3 of us ladies along with our kids taught Sunday School for all the kids in the village. My friend, Kathy, taught the beautiful story of the 3 wisemen on the flannelgraph and had all eyes held in the movement of the pieces of fabric that danced across the board telling the tale.

As we finished, the regular Sunday School teachers came forward to take the offering for their little village church. Slowly, children began to bring forward their coins.

And then there were some who brought forward cans of rice.

I leaned over to the lady near to me to ask her what they were doing. She told me that when they have no money, they bring cans of rice for their offering to the Lord.

I watched in stunned silence as these little children poured out their offering to the King of Kings into the offering canister.

They have no money, yet they are still bringing an offering?

Still, tears spring to my eyes as I think of it. They have so very little and yet are still willing to offer so much. I sit thinking, if I had no money, would I bring forth the very food I had to eat as an offering? Would I?

A poor widow came and put in two copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on." - Mark 12:43

What will I pour out as an offering of worship at His feet? What will you?

for lots more pictures and info about our New Year's trip interior, you can visit here.

Interruptions

2011-01-04T22:15:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit

The new year begins. Goals are made and the excitement of a fresh, clean slate is in the air. And then, plans that seemed so wonderful on paper suddenly become the afterthought. Life happens.

Plans, goals, hopes and dreams for the new string of days gets interrupted {the very ironic thing is that as I am typing this out, I am interrupted by a little girl just having to tell me about how terrible Miss Minchin is, then a little boy needs a word from his Bible sounded out, and then a big boy needs to explain to me all about swords and Silver Chairs....all during quiet reading time}.

"My whole life I have been constantly interrupted until I realized that the interruptions were my work." Henri Nouwen

I think of Jesus. His whole life was living in the interruptions. Healing the sick, making the blind to see, teaching the disciples, feeding the hungry, and on and on it goes.

As I think, plan, and pray about goals and hopes for this new year, I am struck by the need to make room in my life for the many interruptions that make up my life. Don't get me wrong, goals are great things, and yet, I want to be purposeful in the interruptions.

"The truly purposeful have an ironic secret: they manage time less and pay attention more. The most purposeful people I know rarely overmanage time, and when they do it's usually because they're lapsed into drivenness, into a loss of purpose for which they overcompensate with mere busyness. No, the distinguishing mark of the purposeful is not time management. It's that they notice. They're fully awake." Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God

So, as this new year begins, I have my goals written....and one of them is to enjoy the interruptions and to see them as my work. Join me?

Joining in over at Courtney's!

2011- The Year of....

2010-12-29T15:02:00.000-08:00

"You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 4:7-8

Photo Credit

I have been pondering for some time that one word that will describe the upcoming year, 2011. I wanted to find that perfect word, that one that I could cling to on the difficult days to say, "yes, that is the goal, right there."

I have thought and prayed. I wanted to choose a strong word, a word that would show how this next year would be different, marked alone. Words that resonated with me are:

simplify {who doesn't love to simplify, I love that word!} and sweet Courtney has made this her word for the year...love her heart!

thankfulness -or, if you've read Ann's new book the word is, Eucharisteo. Which, by the way, you must read the book. I have hesitated to even put into words what that book has done to me. Basically it chewed me up spit me out, made me dance, wrenched my heart and then filled it up, but most of all, I felt
like I was given access to a secret portal in which to see the God who loves me and gives me so many amazing gifts. I finished the book, yet I am not done {I am undone}...I keep going back, savoring the words, revisiting the things I do not want to forget.

joy- it seems a fitting choice as it is my name and it is a wonderful thing to name a year...choosing joy is an amazing thing!

All of these words are strong words, "do" words, and I like that. I like the idea of a goal, something to measure, to see if it's actually happening. And yet, the word that the Lord keeps bringing to my mind, whispering into my ear, is not a "do" word. The word is worship. And it keeps calling me.

This year, 2011, with it's clean slate, with no mistakes in it yet, is The Year of Worship.

In which I become less and He becomes more. In which I sit and gaze into His loveliness. In which I count One Thousand Gifts {and more!} that He has given me as an act of worship.

It's interesting, as I look at the other words that came to mind, it seems that these will be overflow, by-products of my Year of Worship. If I am intentional about worshipping, my life will become more simple. If I worship, the overflow of that is thankfulness and joy. So, I begin a new year, The Year of Worship, on my knees, before the throne, in His presence.

"When you are pursuing love, running toward Christ, you do not have opportunity to wonder, Am I doing this right? or Did I serve enough this week? When you are running toward Christ, you are freed up to serve, love, and give thanks without guilt, worry, or fear. As long as you are running you are safe." -Francis Chan

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." Psalm 90:14

What's your word?

Blessed

2010-12-27T14:24:00.000-08:00

"Whoever find his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:39

Christmas. I think of quiet, calm, family. I think of protecting that quiet, calm and family.

However, this year we decided to timidly give ourselves away and in return, we found a deep sense of family and community.

On the 23rd we hosted a open house for our Indonesian friends and neighbors. My friend Sarah and I made spaghetti and American Christmas cookies for everyone to try. We had over 100 people come through our doors that night! I was exhausted when the last guest left at 10:30pm, but my heart was full and I felt so blessed.

On Christmas Day, after a quiet Christmas breakfast and opening of gifts, our family ventured out to visit our Indonesian MAF hangar workers in their homes. At each home, we ate a full meal, and then moved on to the next. We ate 8 times! Although this is not how Americans typically celebrate, our Indonesian friends feel loved and cherished when we visit them on Christmas.

Sometimes it's difficult to be flexible, to change. I want to hang on to my traditions, my way of doing things.

Yet, I feel so fulfilled and content when I give up and give out.

The sense of family and community extends beyond race, culture, or traditions. I want to welcome the change, to be open to giving up what I am accustomed to, and living fully the life that is here. Sometimes there are growing pains, but there's always a blessing that comes with it.

I feel very blessed.

#239-245- still counting

Quiet Christmas

2010-12-21T15:58:00.000-08:00

Quiet. Rest. Worship.

I have been looking for the words to say what is in my heart right now.

I am being drawn to the foot of the cross, and I am wanting to spend all of my time there.

The Lord is leading me into a space that has been yet undiscovered with Him and I. A quiet space.

A space where I become nothing and He becomes everything.

As I have been pondering how to say it, Tonia shared these words, "Be simple, hidden, quiet and small."

Then, I read this.

Yes, small, like my Lord who came to serve me {a vile sinner}. I want more of Him and less of me.

And so, for now, this place will be quiet. How long? I don't know. A week? A month? A year? I can't say, but when I come back it will look different. Hopefully you will see less of me and more of Him.

Merry Christmas to all of you, may you worship at the feet of the One who gave all for us. I'll join you there.

Forevermore

2010-12-14T21:44:00.000-08:00

It's hard. Being away from family at Christmas. Tears choke in my throat as I think back to last year...watching the Christmas Ships come in, driving down Peacock Lane to see the lights, and sipping hot chocolate together. Spending moments with my beloved parents, and the beautiful God-gift of a renewed relationship with my prodigal- returned sister and her precious young family.

Tears flow as I think to last Christmas Eve, the service my dad preached, and he called up all the children to tell them the Christmas story. Hundreds of children came forward, but this time it was special...all the grandkids were there to hear the story too.

Sadness.

And then, a gift. From His hand to my heart. A letter comes. An invitation. A tree lighting ceremony at the local hotel.

We all pack up and head out, sweating in the tropical heat.

With friends, we enjoy the singing and the tree lighting. It feels like Christmas.

The songs are all in Indonesian, until the very last one. The choir begins to sing, Hark Now Hear the Angels Sing.

Hark now hear the angels sing

A new king born today

And man will live forever more

Because of Christmas Day

I sing along, with tears. This is why I am here. That man could know that King. That man could have that chance to live forevermore.

Yes, it's hard. But because that King was born, my family and I can be comforted knowing that we will all spend eternity together. And I look forward to it.

In the meantime, I am thankful to be here.

Giveaway Winners

2010-12-05T23:33:00.000-08:00

The giveaway winners for the What's in the Bible? Volume 1 are:

ShellyM

Jessica from My Heart for Home

ilovemy5kids from ilovemy5kids

Stefanie from KnotSewCrafty

Ladies, please e-mail me your address using the contact button on the right!

Thanks!

12 Questions of Christmas Blog Tour {Giveaway}

2010-12-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

This is video 3 of 12 in the What's in the Bible? 12 Questions of Christmas Blog Tour. Check out www.whatsinthebible.com each day to find the location of the next video in the series. ***Go get your kids to watch the fun video!***

What's in the Bible? is the new 13-DVD series from VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer designed to walk kids and families through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. DVDs 1-4 (Genesis - Ruth) are available now. Check out www.whatsinthebible.com to learn more.

These DVD's are made specifically to help kids understand and apply the Bible. There are funny characters and it makes it fun for kids to learn more about the Bible. I personally think that it's a great way to supplement what you already do with your own family.

Now for the fun part! I get to give away 4 copies of What's in the Bible? Volume #1!!!

Entering is super easy...just leave a comment below for a chance to win! US residents only. Giveaway ends Sunday night at 8pm.

Disclaimer: I was given a set of WITB videos as a part of this giveaway. All ideas and opinions are my own.

She Has No Name

2010-11-30T18:26:00.000-08:00

She goes by Tinang Kule, which means simply, "mother of Kule". Her real name? I don't know...I have never heard it. It, like her personal identity, has been quieted.... never to be spoken again.

Her life is given in total sacrifice to others, even her own name is sacrificed and she is known only as the mother of her first-born.

Her day begins early. She starts the fire to begin cooking so that others might eat. It is hot and laborious work.

She smiles and sweats. She is happy that everyone likes her cooking. The satisfied nods of appreciation are enough for her. She stokes the fire and carries on.

Task runs into task as she continues to cook and clean, care for and nurture. She hears the MAF airplane overhead and she rushes to get a brown paper wrapped package full of fried rice for the pilot....my husband. She is intent on having it there for him when he arrives. Each day she does this, for whichever pilot might land in her village to serve her people.

She rushes down the dirt road with a thermos full of hot tea and the hot brown paper package.

I am humbled.

She asks me if I have any laundry. I sheepishly say yes. She picks up the bag of filth and we walk to the river. She crouches down and begins to beat the clothes one by one against a rock, a rhythm of beating and twisting and soaking and twisting again. I try to help....the kids bathing nearby in the river giggle as I, the white lady try to do it right. It is difficult and monotonous.

I whisper to the mother of Kule, This is so much work...it doesn't matter, you don't need to wash our clothes.

She replies with a big smile, Oh no, I LOVE to wash clothes.

And she means it.

Seriously? She loves to wake up early with the only thing to look forward to is serving? Where is her respite? Where is her Calgon moment? Where is her recognition, her thanks? Where is her identity?

She doesn't even have a name to call her own.

Tears spring to my eyes. Am I willing to do the same? The answer...embarassingly....no.

No.

Sure I'm willing to sacrifice, to serve my family, to go mostly without recognition. But, there is that little part that wants to be known, to be recognized, to be called by my name.

She smiles and I see Jesus all over her. His is the name that she is known by...this is her identity. And that is enough.

Is it enough for me? Not yet...but one day I hope it will be.

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:39

Giving Thanks

2010-11-28T23:30:00.000-08:00

#106- for food made by many hands and all from scratch. No cans of pumpkin or French's fried onions here! But, somehow it all tastes better...knowing how much time, effort, and love was given.

#107- Thankful for a table full of people that feel like family, particularly on a day where we miss real family. Words cannot fully express the gratitude I feel for these people. They are friends, co-workers, and family all rolled into one.

Photo: Tripp Flythe

We work together and are so very silly together too (I bet you didn't know missionaries acted so crazy!)

True friends...and I am so thankful.

Photo: Tripp Flythe

#108- for a young girl named Abi...arriving from another island 4 years ago with only a backpack containing all of her possessions. She was my angel from the Lord when I arrived back in Indonesia with 2- month old twins.

And now, she is one of our family, my little sister, my helper, my friend.

#109- for being asked to speak at Relevant. Humbled, grateful, and a little overwhelmed. A million details that have to come together....

I am in awe of all that God has blessed me with. How truly awesome and amazing He is.

Still doing battle with discontent...

all photos taken by my wonderful hubby unless otherwise stated

2010-11-28T03:18:00.000-08:00

The winner of the New Leaf Giveaway is...... The Sanders Scoop! Please e-mail me your address using the contact button on the right. Thanks!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2010-11-25T17:00:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit

Have a wonderful, peaceful day full of giving thanks for all the wonderful blessings He has bestowed on you!!

New Leaf Publishing Giveaway-Updated!

2010-11-25T16:44:00.000-08:00

Yikes! For all of you who clicked on my link only to find a different set of books, I am so sorry!! However, I'm sure those books are good too!! Now, back to the books I am giving away....

***see bottom of post for another chance to enter and win!***

I am excited about this giveaway because I love books!! New Leaf Publishing Group is giving away this package to one of my readers. I have loved perusing New Leaf's selection of books, because they are amazing books, but also because they are very affordable....which is essential when you are a poor missionary {ahem}.

I am thrilled to have this opportunity because I think that these books would make a great Christmas gift for someone on your list.

In this season of busy-ness and gift-giving, I truly believe that the best way we can serve our children is to give them just a few gifts and ones that are focused on HIM. And, what better way to do that than with a brand-new, beautiful Bible and an amazing book about 26 different people groups around the world?!!

These books are gifts that are keepsakes, a gift that will be used again and again!

My son, Hudson, is 6 and is an emerging reader and while his older brother and sister read their Bibles in the morning, he really can't wait to join them. I am so excited for Hudson to open this Bible on Christmas, because now he will feel like a big boy with the older kids, but also, he will not be able to put it down because of all of the amazing pictures!!!

At a young age, it is all about what they see, so The Children's Illustrated Bible is perfect as you teach your children about the things of the Bible because they can actually see what things looked like, how people dressed, what kinds of tools they use, and what kind of food they ate. It really makes the stories come alive!

Here is an awesome video about the Passport to the World book, which would be a perfect gift for any want-to-be world traveler OR a hopeful missionary! Even if your kids aren't one of those, they will still have lots of fun filling up their "passport" with the stickers that you get for each country that you visit.

This video gives me chills when I think of all the future generations of little lives that this book will touch. This is how you begin to raise world changers!!

The good news is this....even if you don't win the giveaway, you can still get these books at an amazing price!

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment below.

For additional entries you can:
1. follow New Leaf on Twitter
2. "like" them on Facebook
3. blog about this giveaway... just make sure to leave an additional comment for each thing you do!

Now, since I messed up my previous post, I am giving you another opportunity to enter the giveaway.

Even if you already commented, comment again for another chance to win!!!

Giveaway will end at 8pm Saturday November 27th.

being filled....the beginning of giving

2010-11-23T22:37:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit

I am finding my way as I am learning to do battle with discontent by being thankful. I hope you are too.

And what better time of year to begin that journey than when we are preparing to give thanks around the table with the ones we love?

And yet, there's more. There's more to the equation than simply being thankful. There is giving.

Thankfulness to a Savior who gave everything for us is where it begins, but not where it ends.

If we have received that amazing gift of love from Him...how can we help but to give it away?

The one-time gift was certainly enough for us to spend the rest of our lives being thankful and giving to others out of that love....but He was so much more gracious to us than that. He gives us Himself on a continual basis.

"I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love, and to know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19

He is there waiting to pour His love into our hearts each and every day.

And that is where giving begins....in the receiving. The filling of our desperate hearts....needy hearts, broken and exhausted hearts. And then, once we are filled to the brim and overflowing
we can do nothing else but give it.

So many times we get overwhelmed with the word give. What does it mean? What does it look like? There are so many needs. How do I begin?

The answer is simple....the quote that my Dad loves and uses often:

Daily experience the extravagant love of the Father and give it away to the next person you meet.

This is quite simply the answer. This is where giving begins...in the filling first and then the giving away.

Here is a video that touched me this week. Albeit, a little cheesy, the message is poignant. The giving begins by giving away His love to the next person you meet.

"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:9-12

Today, steal away for a few minutes and get filled up on His extravagant love.

Now, who are you going to give it to?

2010-11-22T16:02:00.000-08:00

I am contributing today to the conversation at Educating Mother.

I'm sharing about the little fluffy things that live in the hutch in our front yard....

Come join in!

Seeing the Gifts

2010-11-21T18:25:00.000-08:00

From my journal on a recent trip interior, in which we spent 4 days in a village that Dave serves...

#25 beauty so breathtaking...a tiny little village nestled in the middle of nowhere....

#26 a wonderful feeling of peace and simplicity

#27 a little boy flying the airplane as though it all depends on him...

#28 coffee in the early morning made on a camp stove by a loving husband who woke up extra early to surprise his sweetie before beginning a long day of flying

#29 a pumpkin candle and wooden matches to light the way before dawn, tucked into bags by a thoughtful friend

#30 quietness of the village, yet the loudness of the jungle birds and cicadas noisily breaking the dawn and fog laying on the surrounding mountains like a blanket warming the trees

#31 George Winston playing on the iPod as I meet with the Lord smack dab in the middle of nowhere

#32 hearing the airplane engine from far off, and taking off in a full sprint to meet Daddy who is flying in to eat lunch before heading off again

#33 excitedly waiting for Daddy at the end of the day...who will see the airplane first?

#34 watching my studly husband in action

#35 heart bursting with pride seeing my man patiently, lovingly serving people in the midst of heat and exhaustion...all with a smile and a kind word....

#36 amazed at the competency and precision that my husband does his work

#37 seeing a man passionate about the work the Lord has called him to

#38 a little boy fueling the airplane with his daddy

#39 the opportunity to see the people that are so thankful for the work my hubby does...

#40 a boat ride across a rapid river breathing in the fresh air and silently praying we don't tip...

#41 making friends that feel like family....

#42 a spare tire and a husband that keeps a good attitude in spite of a flat and having to spend a night in a different village than his family...

#43 sweet women that come and help this jungle inept girl figure out how to light a fire...staying to keep me company and laughing together at how incapable I am...

#44 hearing that Dave is all right via HF radio, after a slight moment of panic when I hear he won't be coming back tonight

#45 children...kids fast becoming best friends and having the time of their lives, no matter that the common language they use is the second language for all.

#46 boys running wild and free...

#47 gorgeous sunsets as the sun slips behind the mountains...and all is dark and quiet.

#48 a special dinner planned for us on our last night....no electricity so we eat by candlelight. The ladies apologize, yet I am thankful for the warm glow...who needs electricity? I explain to them about ambiance.

#49 hearts and stomach full as we return home. Dirty and exhausted, but so very happy.

Continuing to combat discontent by counting the gifts....

Join in!

all photos taken by my wonderful hubby

The Snake Saga Continues....

2010-11-19T18:59:00.000-08:00

Go over to Dave's blog to read the whole story! Meanwhile, I am still clinging to His Hand!

Creating a Peaceful Home

2010-11-19T03:27:00.000-08:00

I'd like to introduce a new contributing writer to the Stay at Home Missionary, Kristi from Courageous Homekeeping! Kristi will be writing here once a month, so be sure to keep an eye out for her posts. I have the privilege of knowing Kristi in real life, and she is a joy to be around. I hope you'll enjoy getting to know her too!

Peace.

What do you think of when you hear that word?

Quiet?
Stillness?
The sound of water?
A spa?
A forest?
Bedtime? (If you have kids)

When I think of peace, I generally think of somewhere quiet...and alone. And what mother of young children doesn't yearn for that at times? But what I have discovered, is that the word peace really has nothing, or very little to do with the actual circumstance that you are in. And with 5 kids constantly running wild through my house, it's a very good thing that it doesn't have anything to do with quiet! In studying the word peace, I have found that:

• Peace is a God-given, supernatural calmness that begins on the inside of us, regardless of what is happening on the outside of us.

• Peace is something that we are to seek, pursue and display to those around us.

As women, we especially need to display peace in our domain...our homes.

Personally, I find that my own home is most peaceful when I do these four things:

Regular Time With God

I have gone through many seasons of life where I am not getting regular time with God. It is so easy during this time for the messages from the world to sneak in and start breeding discord, chaos, and discontentment within our lives. In order to stop that from happening, a regular time with God to seek after the peace that only He can offer, is so important to beating down the messages of the world. Psalms 34:14 says, “ Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.” Peace isn't something that just happens along by chance. God is more than willing and able to give it to you, but you must do the work of seeking and pursuing it.

Submitting To My Husband

As a first born and natural leader, I have fought God on this subject for many years. But I finally am in a place where I understand that it's not a word that removes my personality, or makes my needs and desires unimportant. It doesn't mean being a doormat. It means being respectful of my husband. It means allowing him to take leadership of the family. It means not being argumentative or feeling like I have to “win”. It means not allowing my children to become the center of our family. As much as I love every one of my 5 kids and as much of my time as they take, it is simply disrespectful and unbiblical to put my kids above my marriage. Life works much better when I submit both to my husband and to God's plan for my marriage.

My Children Know and Respect Boundaries

If your children are constantly arguing and fighting and causing chaos in your house, it's hard to have a peaceful environment. It is so important to begin at an early age with setting appropriate boundaries for your kids. Teach them what the boundaries are, and make sure that they know with certainty when they have crossed those boundaries.

Completed Household Responsibilities

When I was growing up, I was never taught how to clean a house. Our house was always a mess and we lived in chaos. I hated it, but I never knew how to not live that way. Over the years, mess in our house has been a source of tension between my husband and I. As I have learned the skills of managing my home, it has created a tremendous amount of peace. Is my house always spic and span and magazine-cover clean? No! But, I have made great strides to cultivate that peace in our home by making sure that I follow a cleaning schedule, trying my best to not let mess overwhelm any room, and keeping up as much as I can on the laundry. No one can function well in a room that is full of mess. And I don't believe that God intended for us to live that way either. 1 Corinthians 14:33 says, “For God is not a God of disorder, but a God of peace.” Is this a call to perfectionism? No, not at all. But it is a call to do whatever you can to create peace in your home through order. However imperfectly that looks for you.

So, how do you better need to cultivate peace in your home?

Kristi is a busy and happy wife of 12 years and mother to 5 kids; a 10 year old boy, a 7 year old boy and 4 year old triplet girls. She has found contentment (on most days) in her God-given role, and most of her days are spent under piles of laundry, cleaning, chasing kids, baking cookies and cooking dinner. You can find Kristi writing full time about God, marriage and family over at Courageous Homekeeping. Photo by Coco Photography.

Contentment Challenge: Thankfulness

2010-11-16T23:19:00.000-08:00

The ugly state of my soul. That is what I encountered this week as I sought not to complain about anything. Wow.

Humbling and eye opening.

Blech is the word I would use to describe the state of my heart.

You want to know what I had the hardest time with? Was it living overseas? Homeschooling? Exhaustion? Nope. Something so much more significant than that!

My couches. Yep. My couches. Now you know just how superficial I am.

Here I am, most of my neighbors do not even have a couch or a chair to speak of, and I am tempted to complain about the color of my couches.

For a long time I have wanted to have them painted, or stained, and this week the guy who stains them came. Originally, I wanted to have them painted white (in fact I actually spray painted one of them white), but then decided that would not look nice with the green cushions. So, in the end, I decided to have them stained a dark brown.

However, due to some confusion, they ended up getting painted white.

And I was not happy. See, rather than just being thankful for these couches in the first place, I have been discontent with them from the beginning. Even though I picked them, I have never really liked them. I have complained and compared.

the couches "before"

The Lord has gently been teaching me this week to give thanks in all things, not just the things that I choose or I like. All things. Surely there is something I can be thankful for about the couches....

Thankful that....
...we have something to sit on
....they are not bright yellow
.... my kids can jump all over them and they are sturdy
....I have a family that can sit on them
...I have healthy children that can jump all over them

Quickly, my focus shifts from what I don't have or how I wish it would be, to being thankful for what I do have!

And that is the answer to choosing contentment....battling discontentment with thankfulness!!

I learned some interesting things about myself, too. For one, my complaining is directly related to my stress level.

It was totally God that brought this to me early Saturday morning. From Ann,

"Today, when stress mounts, I pray to dismount it with gratitude. I can only feel one feeling at a time, and I choose to give thanks at all times. Fight feeling with feeling!"

Go here to read the rest...well worth your time.

Thus begins a new journey...not simply to "be content", although I wish it was that easy. Rather, when the discontent rises to the surface, doing battle with it by giving thanks! So appropriate as we head into Thanksgiving next week!

And so I begin....a journey to One Thousand Gifts. Beginning now, and continuing on until I reach 1000 and hopefully changed along the way. A way of actively choosing contentment. Not just hoping or wishing to be content, but choosing it.

Will you choose it too?

#1 Thank you Lord that I have couches.....

Now I want to hear from you! How did last week's challenge go for you? Link up your post below!

Blessings!