Make Your Bed To the Glory of God!

The Proverbs 31 woman was a domestic artist. Proverbs 31:22 says "she makes coverings for her bed." Did you catch that - she MAKES her coverings.

Well, I'll be honest - I buy my "coverings" at Target! But I am working my way through a brand new book titled "Polished Cornerstones - Projects for Daughters on the Path to Womanhood". I want to train my daughter to love homemaking. So, yesterday at breakfast we read some of Proverbs 31 and then proceeded to do our morning chores. My daughter makes her own bed everyday but I wanted her to learn to make her bed to the glory of God. To develop her heart towards wanting to make it beautiful - to let making her bed become a work of art.

Sure, it's not perfect, nor the way I would do it...but she's a domestic artist in training! And it's my job to teach her and show her the significance of making her bed.

The Proverbs 31 woman would have spent countless hours making her coverings. It is innate within humans to be drawn toward beauty and so rather than rushing through this rather meaningless task - I challenged her to take her time and make it beautiful to the glory of God!

Genesis 1:27 says man was made in God's image. Our God has created majestic mountains, beautiful sandy beaches, breathtaking sunsets and from the flowers, to the stars, to the birds and butterflies - all of creation declares God's artistic nature.

If you have a daughter, encourage her to express herself - to make it a work of art. Teach her to find joy in making her bed. Praise her efforts and diligence. And as mothers, remember to be a role model like the Proverbs 31 woman and make your bed to the glory of God!

Walk with the King!

This post is the beginning of a regular Wednesday series I will be participating in. It's Raising Homemaker's Wednesday Link up! Check out other blog posts from the book Polished Cornerstones.

I'm also linked at Word Filled Wednesday's and Wordful Wednesday.

My Heart Is About To Burst!

As I clicked through yesterday's marriage challenge link-ups, my heart was overwhelmed with joy! My eyes teared up and I felt like my heart was going to burst - burst with excitement for your marriages!!!

Ladies who linked up - you are BEAUTIFUL! The world has failed to praise you for your inner beauty - but I will not miss this opportunity!

I learned a lot from you all yesterday - at one point I had to pull out my journal and start writing! I think it was the transparency of those who admitted that they had never thought to ask their husband how they could pray for him or were too busy to simply pray - that touched me. It showed me growth is happening!

One woman shared how she asked her husband in the morning how she could pray for him and then he called from work and thanked her for asking! Hooray!

Another shared how her husband leaves early in the morning, but before he leaves he always covers her in bed and says a prayer over her. Beautiful!

Another has been praying for her husband since she was 12 - at the time she was just praying for the man God would bring into her life. And now she is reaping the answers to those prayers. Teach your daughters to pray now for their future husbands!

Many shared great verses. Some have the book "The Power of a Praying Wife" but have never used it and now they are pulling it out and praying! While others said they had been through the book multiple times praying for their husband. Beautiful!

One wife shared how she had given up on prayer since God seemed to be saying "no" - then she realized that God was not trying to change her husband instead he changed her!

Another reflected on how her husband is the leader of their home and the toll leadership takes on a man. The devil seeks to see him fall and if he is led astray so is the rest of the family - she motivated me to pray right that minute AGAIN for my husband!

I recommended you say a sentence prayer for your husband every time you see your wedding ring on your finger. A bunch of wives adopted other little symbols to remind them to pray such as a bicycle, Starbucks cup, ambulance, their shoes, while ironing their clothes or a black Ford F150! Some of you have committed to fast! I am doing a cartwheel inside for you!

Oh ladies - I am just so excited and so blessed and I know your marriages and homes will be too. I want to close this post with what one wife wrote at the end of her post..."please say a sentence prayer for my marriage." What a wise woman she is to know that she needs the prayer of others for her marriage also.

Ladies - do not be afraid to ask others to pray with you for your marriage. We all need prayer. I have prayed for your marriages - so I humbly ask - will you please say a sentence prayer for mine? Thank you and you are truly beautiful! Keep on praying and don't forget to ask your husband today how you can pray for him!

Walk with the King!

Challenge: Pray For Your Husband Daily

Marriage Challenge Week #3

This week the hard work begins! If you do not yet own "The Power of a Praying Wife" by Stormie Omartian - get it! It is an excellent guide and a treasure to keep on your book shelf.

James 5:17 says "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

Prayer changes things - do you believe that? Then let's get started! Here's a list of items you can begin to pray through for your husband (taken from Stormie's book):

1. His Wife -that's a good place to start right? lol!

2. His Work

3. His Finances

4. His Sexuality

5. His Affections

6. His Temptations

7. His Mind

8. His Fears

9. His Purpose

10. His Choices

11. His Health

12. His Protection

13. His Trials

14. His Integrity

15. His Reputation

16. His Priorities

17. His Relationships

18. His Fatherhood

19. His Past

20. His Attitude

21. His Marriage

22. His Emotions

23. His Walk

24. His Talk

25. His Repentance

26. His Deliverance

27. His Obedience

28. His Self-Image

29. His Faith

30. His Future

Challenge: Print this list out and pray through this list daily. Also, do not forget to ask your husband each morning for any specific prayer requests he has for the day. I do this regularly and my husband always answers with a detailed situation he is concerned about. It's a blessing to pray for him and watch God work and answer. Our intimacy has grown through this and he always knows he has a prayer warrior in me. If you don't pray daily for him - who will?

Like a string around your finger reminding you of something important, let your wedding ring be a reminder to pray this week. I want you to pray every time you look down and see your wedding ring. When you take your ring off to wash dishes or shower - say a sentence prayer for your husband. When you are sitting watching television, reading a book or typing on your computer and your ring flashes your way - say a sentence prayer for your husband. Make it a habit to pray for your husband.

I have always used symbols, such as my ring, as reminders to pray for my husband through out the day. Another symbol I use is a bucket truck. As you saw in a post last week, my husband is in the bucket truck industry. When the kids and I are driving we regularly pass bucket trucks and immediately I have one of the children say a sentence prayer for daddy and his job. As we build these habits ourselves, we also train our children to follow our example.

Now I mentioned for a bonus that you could fast and pray for your marriage this week. There are many times over this past year that I have fasted for my family and issues we are facing. My husband and I usually fast together which is such a blessing to our marriage. And I often invite a girlfriend to join my fast (my good morning girls have fasted with me multiple times and my sweet friend Angela from GoodMorningGirls.org is a fasting friend - we text each other through out the day with encouragement). If you are looking for info on fasting you can read my post here and here. And I recommend Susan Gregory's website here.

I am praying for you all, as you pray for your husbands! If you are committing to pray for your man everyday this week - write a blog post about it - link back to this post - and then link up below!

Walk with the King!

The Rachael Ray Show Re-airs Friday, June 25

I just learned that the Rachael Ray Show will be re-airing the segment on mariage tomorrow - Friday, June 25th. If you missed it the first time - you can find the local air time here.

Walk with the King!

Pictures From My Busy Week

I'm taking a day off from blogging tomorrow - but I'll be back Monday with the next Marriage Challenge! I've had a full week supporting my man! We have been attending an Electric Utility Fleet Conference in Williamsburg, VA since last Friday. My parents have done a FABULOUS job with the kids while we were away. Today we head home and this is our ride!

We drove this bucket truck down from Ohio and now we are driving it back today - it's about a 10 hour drive. Our suitcases don't fit so they are in the bucket lol!

Here's some pictures from our week - it was over 100 degrees here!! HOT! This was his truck display on Monday - I served Rita's Italian Ice under his tent.We are somewhere in this sea of suits - every evening we started with a cocktail hour!I got this dress at a consignment shop for$14! Hooray!Then dinner and speakers. We had a great week and are headed home. I miss my little ones and can't WAIT to see them! Tomorrow's a family day - no blogging - so I'll be back Monday! Have a great weekend!


Walk with the King!

A Neat Trick for Folding Sheets

This was posted over at RaisingHomemakers.com last Saturday - but in case you missed it I thought I'd post it here too. Here's a neat little trick for folding your sheets!

Walk with the King!

Becoming...

Today Sarah Mae is guest posting! Sarah Mae raises babes, loves her man, home-keeps, java-hugs, homeschool teaches, and blog writes. She is a truth seeker and a grace lover. You can find her offering up her thoughts at her personal blog, Like a Warm Cup of Coffee and at the DaySpring website, (in)courage. She is the gal behind Raising Homemakers. Also this: the Relevant Conference. She is currently the proud mommy of two lovely daughters and one busy little boy.


Sarah Mae writes:
The tagline of the Completing Him series says, “Becoming the woman your man needs.”

I think it’s catchy and cute and fits perfectly with the challenge.

However…

a reader mentioned her disappointment with the word ‘becoming’ saying, “I don’t have to become what my husband needs, I already am, that’s why he married me.”

Valid point, wouldn’t you say? Sure made me think twice about the tagline. And the word “becoming.”

So I’m thinking about her comment and about ‘becoming’ and I’m thinking how we are all becoming something, because none of us are complete. In fact, we will not be complete until that glorious day when we join the saints in heaven. So for now, we are being sanctified…we are becoming.

And yes, we are even becoming the women our husbands need, because even though our husbands chose to marry us because of who we are, a relationship grows and stretches and becomes itself. We learn more about our husbands through the weeks, months, and years, and we learn how to better compliment them with each passing season. We learn how to be what our husband needs as we walk alongside him, study him, seek after his heart, and observe the details of who he is.

As we learn, and as we pay attention, we will become what he needs; we will know him better than anyone else on this earth.

We are always becoming, always growing, always learning, always conforming more to the image of Jesus Christ, in our lives and in our marriages.

Isn’t it beautiful that our God doesn’t keep us stagnant?

So friends, go forth, and become!


Thank you Sarah Mae for an inspirational word!

Walk with the King!

Until Death Do Us Part

Do you remember your marriage vows? They went something like this:


I, ____, take you, ____, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.


"Until death do us part." Do you remember that line? Statistics say that in America, over 50% of marriages do not make it "Until death do us part."

Do you take your vows seriously? God does.

1. Matthew 19:6 says "what God has joined together, let man not separate." (exception: look at Matthew 19:9)

2. Malachi 2:14 says God is a witness to our marriage covenant.

3. Ephesians 5:22-33 says marriage is a picture of Christ and the church.


Let's agree with God that indeed our marriage vows are sacred and permanent. Forget that divorce is an option and commit to working on your marriage daily.


This weeks challenge is simply to Remember. Remember the day you entered your sacred vows. If you are a blogger, please post pictures from that day and share your story. Then link up below and link your post to this post.


Here's my story:

On a hot September Saturday, my husband and I made covenant with one another "Until death do us part."

It was a traditional wedding, with lots of family and friends there. The most embarrassing moment was when we lit the unity candle. As you can see in the picture, we brought our two individual candles together, lit the unity candle and then blew our individual candles out.

I LOVE the picture of the candles showing two becoming one. After the unity candle was lit, we stood and stared starry eyed into each other's eyes while music played. Then IT happened. The unity candle went OUT! Now all eyes were on us, the music was playing and we were laughing and I'm said to Keith - should we relight it? "No" he said. But I kept pushing "are you sure?" "No" he said again. Okay! And right there was the beginning of me learning to submit to my husband.

The rest of our day was wonderful. We had our dinner at an Amish Restaurant and then headed to Hawaii on our honeymoon (which was a gift from my sweet Uncle and Aunt!). Here's a picture of our first days of marriage on our honeymoon.

Our marriage vows acknowledge that we are more than just living together. We are committed. We are committed "Until Death Do Us Part!"

Walk with the King!

How To Fold Sheets (A Neat Little Trick)

My Youtube of "How To Fold Sheets (A Neat Little Trick)" is being featured on Raising Homemakers today. Check it out when you have a minute and have a great weekend!


Walk with the King!

Our Very First Garden

The Plan. Teacher mommy and little pilgrims billow with hope as they write out the plan for their first garden.The Place is not inviting. The curse is remembered "Cursed is the ground because of you; (Adam) through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food." Gen. 3:17-19They work in the hot sun preparing the soil. An hour later perseverance and exhaustion battle. Exhaustion leads to irritability. Children waver...mommy chooses the route of encouragement and praise. It works - Perseverance wins!The stones are removed for we are reminded of the parable of the sower. "Some seed fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly...but when the sun came up, the plants were scorched." Matt. 13:5. The seeds are measured and dropped into their nests and teacher mommy reminds the children, God says: "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." 2 Cor. 9:6

And so the pilgrims sow and sow and sow, for they desire an abundant harvest.
Hope is born in children's hearts. Lessons are taught as dirty hands dig and sweaty brows drip. Teacher mommy quotes one of her favorite verses: "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12:24 Children are reminded how they are like the seeds, someday they will produce many more seeds if they are willing to be used by God. Life is a garden. We plan, we toil, we sow, we die to self and we wait on God for the increase.

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting...

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Heb. 11:1

The rain comes and comes 7 straight days in Ohio, the sun does not shine and the seeds do not sprout. The seedlings are beaten down and weary. Will there be a harvest?

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Heb.11:6

Teacher mommy reminds children "you have sown generously now be patient - your reward is coming."


And then it happens, the sprouting of corn, the row of lettuce appears overnight, 10 green cherry tomatoes appear and the pinnacle - a ripe strawberry!

Persevere in faith, sweet Christian sister. Sow generously - Indeed rewards are coming.

Walk with the King!

Quiet Time Tip - Grab Your Highlighter!

Here's my quiet time tip of the week. When you read your Bible grab a highlighter and get marking! Here is what the book of Proverbs looks like in my Bible. And if you saw my last two Bibles they look identical. Why?

Because I struggle with words and my use of them. I long to be a wise woman.

Proverbs 13:3 says "He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin."So, I highlighted every single verse on speech in the book of Proverbs with a pink highlighter. You can do this in your Bible with anything you are struggling with or looking to focus in on and learn.
Proverbs is also a great book of the Bible to read one chapter a day in. There are 31 chapters - so you can read one chapter each day of the month. Since today is the 17th of June, you would read Proverbs 17 today. And tomorrow read Proverbs 18 and go according to the date. And the end of the month, start over and read it again!

Think of the wisdom you will gain! Pray the Proverbs over your husband, children and yourself. Mark other key words with other colors of highlighters. Drink up God's word and Live Well!

Walk with the King!

Resource Suggestion: If you are looking to understand Bible basics there is a brand new website that was begun by other mommy bloggers and students of the word titled Scripture Dig. They have been writing on topics such as: How We Got to 66 Books, What All the Different Versions of the Bible Are, and What the True Timeline of the Books of the Bible Are. If you have some questions about the background of the Bible and the basics of the faith - this is a great blog to visit.

Pity or Praise the Proverbs 31 Woman?

Word Filled Wednesday: Proverbs 31:31: "Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."


We have finally come to the end of the 21 week Proverbs 31 series! What an inspiration it has been to study this amazing woman who does not eat the bread of idleness! We have seen her diligence in every aspect of life - from caring for her husband, children, servants and even the poor. We've watched her rise early, stay up late, plant a vineyard, sew her own clothes, her family's clothing, the tapestries and beddings! In the end, what does she get for all of her hard labor? A prize, trophy or plaque? No, she receives the praise of those around her declaring indeed she is rare.

Let's reflect for a moment on the above list. Do you think she wanted to be pitied for the lowly work she had to do? Do you think she moped around imagining that the grass was greener for the lady down the road? She had to wake so early to care for her loved ones. She had to work so late at night to get all of sewing work done. She helped the poor, while still making sure her family was warm and fed. She had to be exhausted! Should we pity the Proverbs 31 woman?

I mean where are the spa days? Disney Land vacations? The raise with the corner office and bonus checks? Proverbs 31:31 says - "Give her the reward she has earned." So what has she exactly "earned"?

Proverbs 31:28 says "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also and he praises her." Her reward is the praise of her closest loved ones. And so we must ask:

1. What do your children think of you?
2. What does your husband think of you?

Some may say, "Praise is not much of a reward." But truly, how many wives do you know who long for their husband's appreciation and acknowledgement of what they do. How many parents do you see struggling with the rebellion of their teens. The Proverbs 31 woman does not face these struggles. Wouldn't you take the peace, love, and harmony of a warm cozy home over a free family vacation filled with strife?

Let's switch gears, I have said many times on this blog "Who you are at home is who you really are." But I want to add - you cannot be warm to those inside your home and cold to those outside your home and be like the Proverbs 31 woman.

Her character was clearly seen by those outside of her home. Verse 31 says: "Her works bring her praise at the city gate." Not only is she praised by those inside her home, but now we see her being praised by those outside her home! Double bonus!

So, at the end of the day, do we pity or praise the Proverbs 31 woman? I suppose it matters what you value? Money, status, power, or people?

To me, life is empty without the people in my life. And though I never want to selfishly seek praise from others - we see that it is the natural outcome of a woman who lives her life poured out for her family and friends.

Does God pity or praise the Proverbs 31 woman? He praises her. It is God I ultimately desire to please. And though this world may be confused by our dreams, visions and goals, one day when we stand before God's throne on judgement day it will all be clear.

Proverbs 31:10 says, "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." Indeed sweet Christian sister, you are rare and your worth is beyond any earthly treasure. Now go treasure the people in your life and pursue pleasing God.

Walk with the King!

I am participating in Seven Clown Circus Wordful Wednesday and Internet Cafe's Word Filled Wednesday.