Hectic at Home?

Sorry, friends. It's been a minute since I last posted. Thanks for checking in though and reading my blog. Life has really kept me busy here lately and blogging has just not been possible, though I do enjoy it.

As many of you know, the first 5 months I was married I was not working full-time. I was finishing up school and being a full-time wife. Since beginning to work in full-time ministry, our household has really been hectic. Gone are the days of cooking every night and keeping our apartment clean! I'm still trying to figure out how to balance work and home. I am seeking the Lord on how to bring more order and harmony to the demands of work and home. I don't know how working mothers come home after a full day of work and tend to their family. God bless them!

I've been doing some thinking, and more than ever I am understanding God's call for women to be keepers at home (cf. Titus 2:3-5). God is really speaking to my heart about the importance of women being freed up to be home--even if it's just for a season. I do not think this means women have to be stay-at-home full-time, but perhaps it means switching from a full-time job to a part-time job.

Or, take for example, one of my sister-in-laws who has prayerfully applied for some jobs closer to her home and with more paid holidays. She and her family cannot afford for her to come home permanently at this time, but possibly working 3 miles from her home will allow her to get home quicker to her family (oppossed to the 1 hour commute she is doing now). I applause her for this move of faith!

Anyway, I say all of this to express that though I have been called to full-time ministry for such a time as this, I believe the Lord is preparing my heart to understand the importance of my role in the home in the future.

What about you? Where do you stand on this issue?

If you are married with children:
Can you honestly say your home has top priority? Is your home suffering due to your work outside of the home? Is the environment of your home one of an oasis? Are you aware and on top of the spiritual well-being of your home? Your marriage? Your children?

If you are married without children:
Your husband and your home should still be a top priority for you. True, being married without children you do have some flexibility, but this time without children is so foundational. This time should be spent treasuring your relationship with your husband. Are you becoming one more each day? Use this time to properly prepare as much as possible for children in the future: financially, spiritually, and even learning how to parent a child God's way. Anything outside of the home is not more important than this!

If you are single:
I wish I would have taken the wise counsel from my older friend, Julie when I was single. She encouraged me to save my money when I was single and get out of debt. Sadly, I did not take her advice, and let me tell you....bringing financial debt into a marriage is not fun! So, get a second job! Cut down on going out to eat, and dare I say...shopping!!!!!! In doing this, you will honor the Lord and honor your future spouse by becoming a good steward with your finances. One more thing: ask the Lord to begin speaking to your heart about the role of a wife and mother. When I was single, I got my hands on everything I could read about this topic.

I never meant for this post to be so long, but as you can see, the Lord is really stirring my heart about this topic. I think it's no coincidence, because as I am called to minister to women, this is an area we American women need to prioritize: our home. I have been challenged by the Lord in this area, and I pray you will take these things to the Lord in prayer as well.

Let's set our hearts to Him to help our homes not be hectic!