Day 75: Host God's Servants

As we grow and change in our relationship with God and let Him direct our paths, the things really worth living for come into sharp focus. Let's live by God's priorities and allow Him fill our hearts with His desires.  Again, being a hostess is not a calling for all of us.  God's servants travel near and far working long, exhausting hours spreading the new news of our Savior who died for us.  Are you feeling called to offer your home as a place of refuge and rest? 

Day 74: Open Your Home for Hospitality

No matter what your job title is, the title "A Worshiper of God" is one that can make any of us feel complete and balanced.  When we pray, listen for God's answer and know we are following His will for our lives we find our balance and our homes will find peace.  We are not all called to use our home for ministry, but if we are are, through prayer God will show us which ministry we are blessed to serve.  Are you a natural hostess, who is God calling you to serve in your home ministry?

Day 73: Practice Hospitality

Do you reach out to others showing them love through your hospitality?  Opening our homes gives us the opportunity to bless others in a ministry that can be completely unique to us.  Some of us are called to use our gift and minister outside them home while others of us are called to bring people into our home to provide meals, a place to rest or fellowship.  Please pray about your personal ministry and ask God to help you know how and if you could use your home as a part of it.

Day 72: Dress Your Family for Spiritual Success

Do you clothe yourself in the full armor of God each day? We need to arm ourselves with as much as we can before we set out or send our family out into the world for the day.  It's so easy to walk out the door in the morning, take everything on ourselves and veer off God's path.  Chances are we will mess it up along the way without asking for God's guidance and seeking His will for our day.  Through prayer let's invite the power of God into our lives to do what is right and find peace with Him and the world around us.  

Day 71: The Ministry of Family Meals

Sitting around a dinner table can seem so simple and insignificant at times.  Personally, there are days I learn more about my children and husband at our table than anywhere else.   A family breakfast can set the tone for our day and a dinner can bring us peace knowing we can share the good, bad and the ugly of our day.  Does your family eat meals together? If not do you think you could change something in your schedules to make it happen? 

Proverbs 31: 30

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

    but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

 

Day 68: Live in Peace

Making peace with certain people can seem impossible. We can rest easy knowing the ultimate judge will justly take care of it all.  Our load becomes a lot lighter when we leave it up to our Lord.  What we need to focus on is keeping ourselves in check by living at peace with everyone and making the best of any bad situation that arises.  I know it is a big challenge, but I think we are up for it!

Day 67: Honor the Sabbath

For women, taking part in anything restful has to be deliberate and well planned in advance. We spend so much time taking care of the people around us we often find ourselves drained and our life in unbalanced.  God wants us to rest and knows we need it so we need to rid ourselves of any guilt that may arise during your time of rest.  Refresh your perspective and regain your mental and emotional balance to set yourself up for success.

Day 66: Establish Family Traditions

Family traditions are a wonderful time spent building memories to last a lifetime. My family had lots of traditions growing up but my parents never knew how much they meant to us until we spent hours laughing around a campfire just a few years ago.  No matter how big or small, silly or serious your tradition is, your children will remember it forever and may possibly carry it on with their own family after you are gone.  Ask your kids about some of the traditions you already have in place, their memories and perspective might amaze you. 

Day 65: Cherish Your Children

There are days motherhood can put us in survival mode just trying to keep our sanity until bedtime.  We've all been there.  God created each of our children with us in mind as their earthly mothers because he knows we are exactly what they need.  Some days I feel ill equipped to deal with what seems like constant yelling, fighting and tantrums.  I find on those days it is a matter of slowing down and reprioritizing my day.  Let us ask God to redirect our focus when we become overwhelmed with our children and responsibilities that lie ahead of us remembering our children are a gift and not an inconvenience. 

Proverbs 31: 28-29

Her children arise and call her blessed;

    her husband also, and he praises her:

"Many women do noble things,

    but you surpass them all."

 

Day 64: Love Your Husband

How difficult or easy it is to live with you?  If you and your husband switched places would you change the things you say to him or do for him?  If we bring our husbands joy by being the best wives we can be, God will bless that and provide us with joy in return.  Be deliberate and positive in your relationship with your husband this week and see if you begin to notice any changes in him and in you.

Day 61: Purify Your House Spiritually

As a spiritual leader in our household it is so important that we make sure the items in it are honoring and pleasing to our God.  We have the knowledge and experience to know some belongings might take us or our loved ones in a negative direction.  This process of purging the ungodly influences will be different for each of us.  Listen to what God has to say to you about what you need to get rid of or maybe you already know but haven't made the change yet.  Maybe this is the change you've needed or have been looking for, you won't know until you try.

Day 60: Practice Shared Servanthood

Do you ever find yourself completing a task around the house just because you think it's just easier and faster to do it yourself? Maybe not, maybe you are already a gifted delegator.  I know I struggle with the easier and faster approach because oddly enough I love to clean, organize and feel the gratification of a job well done.  I know in the long run the task oriented part of me is not doing my children any favors. Let's remember together "everyone lives in and enjoys the house, so everyone needs to be part of maintaining it."

Day 59: Get Equipped for a Clean House

I think most women can relate to Donna's statement "the more living beings I allow in my home, the more mess there is to clean up."  Most days I feel like I'm running in circles picking up messes and it can sometimes be very frustrating because I don't feel like I am able to be as productive as I would like just managing the chaos.  The next time I feel frustrated about the mess, I am going to count my blessings instead.  It's the people living here that make my house a home.  Do you use chemical free or all natural cleaners?  If so what brand do you use?

Day 58: De-clutter

I don't know how many times I've hung on to something I was sure I would be able to use someday.  I've donated or thrown many of those "someday" items in our recent move. Ineither got a new one because I forgot about he old one or I realized that item wasn't as useful to me as I thought.  The less we have to clean, shuffle around, look at and maintain the easier our lives become.  Have you tried any de-cluttering yet this summer? If you have, do you feel more organized, less drained and stressed in your daily life?

Proverbs 31: 26-27

She speaks with wisdom,

    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household

    and does not eat the bread of idleness.

 

Day 57: Identify Household Trouble Spots

As mothers, wives and sometimes even as a friend we can feel under appreciated in our efforts to take care of others.  It's easy to fall into the comparison trap watching what other women seem capable of handling or accomplishing each day.  God writes us encouragement and isn't setting us up for failure with what He asks of us.  Sometimes I have to admit my goals become my priority and I forget to ask God what should take precedence.  As a woman who is currently living without a functional kitchen and has many other cluttered spaces in her house I can tell you that the mess and disorganization can be absolutely paralizing some days.  I am naturally a structured, scheduled and organized person so my brain doesn't even know how or what to process in any order and I find myself often frustrated because I feel like I run in circles accomplishing what feels like nothing most days.  I hope you take Donna's two zone challenge and see if it helps you become more efficient in other areas of your life.  

Day 54: Explore the World of Internet Marketing

Are you making the most of each day by living life to its fullest and making the most of every opportunity?  If you need to, what is one thing you can change that should help you do this?

Day 53: Consider Real Estate Investing

Think of the possibilities the future could hold for us if we made a wise investment.  While many investments involve money, there are those that need only the time and effort we can offer.  Let us continually focus on improving ourselves by increasing our knowledge because money will only take us so far.  Where do feel you need to be investing, monetarily or personally? 

Day 52: Try Direct Marketing

In our world many people would give anything for wealth, lives have been lost for it. People have big corporate jobs, work obscene quantities of hours each week and have a lot of things but nothing of true value.  We often overlook good health as a piece of our wealth because we don't realize how valuable it is until we aren't healthy.  Enjoy what you do and accept it as a gift from God whether you are making $250 or $250,000. Our God knows what we need and He will provide it in His time, not ours.  Keep your eyes open for opportunities if you are seeking a new or extra way to make income.  Make sure to ask God, He will know if it is right for you. 

Day 51: Develop Multiple Streams of Income

We are God's personal investments and when we use the gifts he has placed within us he has great return on His investment.  I pray that you have discovered your gift or you will very soon.  As we go through this book and realize how amazing the Proverbs 31 woman was and how short we fall, we can rest easy knowing God created us with our own unique set of skills.  Don't focus on what you wish you had, use what you were given to help others and become your own Proverbs 31 woman.  What is your gift that you could use to help others that might possibly generate some extra income?

Proverbs 31: 24-25

She makes linen garments and sells them,

    and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;

    she can laugh at the days to come.

 

Day 50: Work From Home

We've all heard the saying "idle hands are the devils playground" and if we really think about it we realize it is very true.  We maybe watch more TV than we should, spend too much time on Facebook, the surfing the internet, or doing one of many other mindless activities that keep us from what we really need to do.  Home is thought of as a place of rest and relaxation, a place to escape and do whatever we want when we want.  I know I have found over the years the more efficient I make my home the more productive and energized I become.  When I get distracted and things become unorganized I become less productive.  Do you have your house set up in a way that keeps you motivated?  

Day 47: Evaluate Your Countenance

We can put our trust and confidence in our God as we keep a gentle and quiet spirit knowing he will take care of us.  Does your countenance reflect the love and care you receive from your heavenly husband? Are you in a relationship with God in which your beauty radiates "There's something about her!"  Let's not have self-confidence but rather a God-confidence knowing He has a plan and a purpose for our lives only He can see.