Finding joy in the everyday

After many years of blogging I have decided to put my pen down for the time being.  I have blogged on many different topics and thus far written 1,947 posts.   I am often surprised at the posts that gain the most interest — this year " Idolising poverty " received many hits, likewise " The myth of the perfect family ". " True restfulness " was very popular along with " The power of our homes ".  Posts about fashion (modesty), ways to make our homes more comfortable, my room by room series were all winners with many hits and comments.  However, the ones that weren't popular were the posts I often felt most strongly about, " Submitting to government " was one of them and those on domestic violence (a topic I am passionate about but one that many avoid even though it is a big problem in society including among the Christian community).  The message I have tried to get across was the need for women to support and encour

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29) Our words can tear people apart much more easily than we can put them back together. Speech is a wonderful gift of God but we so often misuse it.  Unwholesome speech was a problem even in the apostle Paul’s day (there really isn't anything new under the sun). He reminded the Christians at Ephesus that they should put away vulgarity, lewdness, slander, and obscene talk from their lives. These were expressions of their old lives, and it was now out of place with their new identity in Christ. Instead, their lives were to be characterized by wholesome speech. Their good or wholesome words would give grace to the hearers. The Holy Spirit would help guard their speech, convict of any filthy talk, and help them to use words to benefit others.  For those who work in an office, or have a lot to do with their local church, moth

Fret not thyself because of evil men,  neither be thou envious at the wicked:  For there shall be no reward to the evil man;  the candle of the wicked shall be put out.   Proverbs 24:19-20 Have you ever found a bible verse that you feel as if you have missed or never fully comprehended? This is one such verse, I had never really thought enough about it and its time I did. These are important verses to understand.  Have you ever envied someone else, just a little. I think we all have from time to time. That person who gets the promotion and you think you (or perhaps you husband) should have got it as you work so much harder than the other. Why do their unethical or immoral behaviour go unnoticed when you follow all the rules and still miss out.  When we envy the wicked people around us, people who do not know Jesus as their Saviour, we fall into the common trap of looking only at the here and now and not focusing on the eternal.  We also full into the trap of thi

Depression is more than just feeling sad —    it is a serious condition which makes coping with day-to-day  living  very hard and leaves you feeling down most of the time. Depression is REAL and it can lead to devastating results. When someone comes to you and tells you that they are feeling depressed LISTEN and don’t trivialise them.  Depression should never be treated flippantly, always take what you hear seriously.  Sadly not that long ago a blogger wrote a post and linked to Facebook about depression and provided very poor advice, which included “kick out self-pity quickly”. It was clear that this blogger didn’t understand depression and had never been around someone with depression. Someone wrote in the comments that they were feeling very suicidal that day. Someone else provided the emergency US suicide phone number. The blogger deleted it. I was angry as this was a call for help and the blogger treated it with distain. Here was an opportunity to reach out an

Something peaceful to enjoy

Face to face with Christ my savior,  face-to-face what will it be. When with rapture I behold him, Jesus Christ who died for me. Face-to-face I shall behold him, far beyond the starry sky. Face-to-face in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by. Only faintly now I see Him, With the darkened veil between, But a blessed day is coming, When His glory shall be seen What rejoicing in His presence, when are banished grief and pain. When the crooked ways are straightened, and the dark things shall be plain. Face to face—oh, blissful moment! Face to face—to see and know; Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so. The following by Joni Eareckson Tada ( Link )  Wow, what a glorious day it is going to be! Heaven is coming, friend, and something so grand, so great, so wonderful is going to happen in the world’s finale that it’s going to suffice for every one of your tears. It will atone for every one of your disappoint

Deborah The more I learn about the women of the bible the more I discover they aren’t mentioned in the bible due the state of their homes, the number of hours they spend cleaning, whether they cook healthy meals but rather their faith in God and placing their trust in Him and doing as He requires of them. This may mean becoming a missionary or doctor to help the sick, a teacher or nurse or staying at home. Perhaps caring for the sick or helping those in the neighbourhood, reaching out to women in the church who have been abused. The tasks that God gives us to do will vary and may change as we grow older and circumstances change. Regardless, what He asks of me will be different to what He asks of you — so do not compare yourself to other women, undertake your mission the best you can with complete trust in God.  Back to Deborah, well, she was a remarkable woman and Israel’s only female judge.  She was married but we do not know if she had any children, we know nothing a

A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.     (Proverbs 12:16) Many times, when people insult us, there is a lot of pain, hurt, anger and mess going on underneath the surface in that person’s life.  Often, if we can extend grace, we may just be able to salvage the relationship or avoid a big fight.  Taking every insult personally and trying to repay that person back with an even bigger insult does not honour Christ.  And it doesn’t bring people closer to us or closer to God. ( source ) No one likes an insult (it hurts, sometimes badly especially when it comes from a loved one), but it happens and how we respond is what is important. We can respond as the world responses or we can act as an Christian.  The choice is up to you.  It can happen when we are out and about, those who go off to work and it can happen at home. What can we do? Don’t take offence — When you take offense, it builds “a fence” around your heart and

Part 8: I’m frazzled, how do I cope? Working women have many challenges and one of these is trying to run a household and work at the same time. It isn’t easy and for some women it is extremely stressful and tiring. On Facebook I came across a question from a reader which I am sure many of you are relate too. It came from "The Organised Housewife" page ( source ) READER QUESTION I work full time, have 3 kids (3-8) and don't get much help around the house, everything is left to me.  By the time I finish dinner and fold all the washing, I am exhausted, no time for cleaning the floors, kitchen or general tidy of the house. I don't like the house this way it's getting me down. Any tips from other working mums on how you keep up with the housework, would be very appreciated. What can working women do to minimise stress levels and exhaustion but still manage to work and care for their homes and families? It is a tall order but doable.  **Please n