Thankful Homemaker: A Christian Homemaking Podcast

Practical Ways to Cultivate Grace-Filled Speech

Resisting Gossip: Using Words to Build Up

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 18:34:59 -0500

Gossip is a prevalent and poisonous sin that is often overlooked, but our words have the power to bring either death or life to our relationships. We are diving into what the Bible says about gossip, its consequences, and practical ways to guard our speech to build others up. We'll explore biblical principles and wise practices to resist gossip and use our words to reflect God's love and grace.

Head over to ThankfulHomemaker.com for full show notes on all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode.

EP 67: Speech Seasoned with Grace and Kindness

EP 1: Taming Our Tongues

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Wisely Navigating Our Technology

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 17:04:23 -0500

In today’s world, our smartphones have become almost indispensable. They keep us organized with calendars, to-do lists, and reminders. They keep us connected with family and friends through calls, texts, and social media. They entertain us with games, music, podcasts, and videos.

However, today’s episode isn’t about getting rid of our smartphones; it’s about using them in a way that aligns with the gospel. Matthew 10:37 tells us that whoever loves anything more than Jesus is not worthy of Him. Our first desire must be to be wholly devoted to Jesus, ensuring that our smartphone use reflects that devotion. We need to be mindful of how our phones impact our spiritual lives, making sure they enhance rather than hinder our walk with Christ. We’re going to walk through how we can bring our use of technology back to the gospel, prioritizing our relationship with Jesus above all else.

Head over to ThankfulHomemaker.com for full show notes on all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode.

50+ Things to Do Instead of Scrolling Social Media

EP 33: Is Your Smartphone Changing You?

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List of Homemaking Encouragment Posts & Podcasts

The Benefits of a Quick Tidy: Transforming Your Home in Minutes

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 08:59:56 -0500

In this episode, we're tackling a challenge many of us face: feeling like our homes are in complete chaos. With busy schedules and active households, it's easy to get overwhelmed. But here's some encouraging news—your home probably isn't as messy as it feels. Join me as I share practical tips for a quick 5-10 minute tidy that can dramatically transform your living spaces without the need for deep cleaning or vacuuming.

We’ll dive into some of my favorite tips, like setting a timer, focusing on high-impact areas, and involving the whole family in tidying up. I'll also cover those notorious "hot spots" in our homes that quickly become cluttered, like the shoes entryway, mail and paperwork, and kitchen counters, and share strategies to keep them under control.

Remember, the goal isn’t perfection—it's about making small, manageable changes that make a big impact. And as we go about our daily routines, let's remember that our ultimate source of peace and order is Jesus.

Head over to ThankfulHomemaker.com for full show notes on all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode.

10 Tips for Beginning Homemakers @Date Night with the Woods

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Cultivating Biblical Hospitality in Your Home and Life

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 08:22:39 -0500

In this episode, we discuss the theology behind biblical hospitality and explore practical ways to implement it in our daily lives. True hospitality is not about having a spotless home or serving gourmet meals; it's about building relationships and making others feel welcome and loved, always pointing them to Christ. By keeping hospitality simple and focusing on people over details, we allow genuine relationships to develop.

Christian hospitality is a lifestyle, not just a special occasion. It's about serving others sacrificially, even when it's inconvenient. We'll discuss the importance of hospitality in the Christian life and walk through some practical tips for involving our children. Plus, I'll share some simple ideas to keep gatherings stress-free and enjoyable. Join us as we embrace the heart of biblical hospitality together.

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EP 145: The Influence of Godly Mothers and Grandmothers

Lessons Learned from My Grandmother

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 19:57:26 -0500

Whenever I am asked, "Who has made an impact on your life?" my mind is drawn to my grandmother. My grandmother is a beautiful woman who had a significant impact on me as a homemaker, wife, mother, and grandmother.

In this episode, I share some insights into my grandmother's life (she lived to be 102!), the lessons she taught me, and the example she set for me on being a homemaker.

My hope is that this episode will remind us to cherish each moment, love generously, and reflect God's grace and love in everything we do.

Head over to ThankfulHomemaker.com for full show notes on all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode.

Titus 2 Posts & Podcast at Thankful Homemaker

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Loving Our Wayward Children: Encouragement for Moms of Prodigals

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 08:37:42 -0500

My dear friends, we are diving into a topic that is near and dear to many of our mama hearts and it’s one that's dear to mine. We are walking through how to love our wayward children. We will discuss the importance of keeping a Gospel focus, connecting with our prodigal children, and trusting in the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation. I pray this episode will encourage you, remind you where your true hope lies, and give some practical guidance too.

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Updates, My Current Time in the Word and Some Favorite Things

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 20:19:12 -0500

In this episode, things are a bit more casual as I share the latest updates on the blog and podcast. I give a peek into my personal time in the Word in the mornings and share a few of my current favorite things. So grab a coffee or tea and come sit with me a bit xoxo.

Head over to ThankfulHomemaker.com for full show notes on all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode.

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Spiritual Priorities PDF Planning Guide

Planning with Purpose: Spiritual Priorities for the New Year

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 15:55:22 -0500

Setting spiritual priorities through a biblical lens helps us focus on glorifying God in every aspect of our lives. We will discuss the impact of such priorities on our daily spiritual growth and provide practical tips for setting and achieving spiritual goals.

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Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney

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Means of Grace to Grow in Godliness PDF Handout

The Means of Grace to Grow in Godliness

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 18:18:20 -0500

God's Word, prayer, and fellowship are gifts from the Lord. He uses these to graciously shape us into Christ's image, strengthen our faith, and grow us in godliness.

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Spiritual Disciplines Series

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2023 Christmas Gift Guide

The Heart of a Servant: Lessons from Luke 1:38

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 10:34:32 -0500

Mary's humble and obedient servant-like approach inspires Christian homemakers to transform their homes into nurturing spaces of faith and trust, echoing her commitment to serve according to God's plan

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Luke (Reformed Expository Commentary by Philip Graham Ryken

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Setting Our Minds On Things Above: Unpacking Colossians 3:1-4

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

As we walk through Colossians 3:1-4, we will discuss the importance of setting our minds on things above, walk through what it means to live our lives hidden with Christ in God, and the transformative effect this can have on our earthly and eternal lives

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Christ-Centered Thanksgiving: Simple Planning & Traditions

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 11:31:44 -0500

Sharing simple Thanksgiving planning and traditions to keep Christ at the center of your family’s celebration.

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Resources to Help Your Family Celebrate a Christ-Focused Thanksgiving

All Thanksgiving Resources at the Blog

Amazon Thanksgiving Book Recommendations

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The Authority of Jesus (Matthew 7:28-29 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 05:32:02 -0500

Jesus' words have authority because He is God. Whether it was the original hearers of the Sermon on the Mount or present-day readers of the Bible, we cannot argue or disagree with the teachings in this sermon because they are the direct words of God

Matthew 7:28-29:

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

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A Few of My Favorite Moments from the G3 Conference 2023

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0500

My husband and I have been attending the G3 Conference in Atlanta since 2017. I want to share some of my favorite aspects of the conference (with the hope you’ll put it on your list for 2025) and provide some helpful resources so you can benefit from the conference at home.

G3+ App - s ign up here and use the code MARCIG3PLUS for two months free.

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Build Your House On The Rock (Matthew 7:24-27 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500

In Matthew 7:24-27, we find a contrast between the wise man who builds his house on the rock and the foolish man who builds his house on the sand. The foundation on which we build our lives is critical when the storms of life come.

The wise man hears and practices the words of Jesus, building his house on the Rock, which is immovable. In contrast, the foolish man hears but does not practice the words of Jesus, building his house on sand, which is unstable, and in the end, he will fall.

Matthew 7:24-27:

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

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5 Motivations to Stop Grumbling

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500

The sin of grumbling or complaining, whether silently or aloud, is a sin against the Lord. It implies that, at that moment, I am saying Jesus is not enough.

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The Sin of Grumbling @Susan Heck

Sin of Grumbling @Date Night with the Woods

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Homemaking Encouragement Podcasts & Posts at Thankful Homemaker Free Library of Printables Jumpstart your Mornings Free Mini-Course EP 79: Homemaking Matters: A Good God Working Out His Purposes in the Midst of Our Ordinary Days

Managing Your Home: Simple Tips for Time Management, Cleaning, Laundry, and Organization

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Whether you’re a new homemaker or a seasoned one, we all desire to find joy in caring for our homes and to do all our work as unto the Lord. Here are some simple encouragements to help you in the care of your home.

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The Danger of Self-Deception (Matthew 7:21-23- Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:21-23 not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the kingdom of Heaven. How do we know if we are known by Jesus? How do we know if we are self-deceived? Is our profession merely verbal or intellectual knowledge, or are we those who are truly converted?

When we call Jesus Lord, do we desire to submit to Him as Lord and do as He tells us to do from a heart that has been changed and given new motives and desires? Is there a love for the Lord and His Word and His people?

Matthew 7:21-23:

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

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G3 Conference - Use code G3TH for 30% off your registration

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A Tree and Its Fruit (Matthew 7:15-20 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 23 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500

We must be diligent students of the Word. We cannot be reminded enough that theology matters. Many people fall into following false teachers because they don’t know what God’s Word says. True character will eventually reveal itself. The fruit will eventually show the character of the tree. It will be clear if the fruit is rotten.

Matthew 7:15-20:

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

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The Influence of Godly Mothers and Grandmothers

Tue, 09 May 2023 05:51:50 -0500

As a young believer and a young mother, one of the scriptures that had much impact on me was 2 Timothy 1:5:

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

The Lord used the influence of Timothy's mother and grandmother in bringing him to saving faith. The Lord also used them in instructing Timothy in the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:14-17).

Full Show Notes: ThankfulHomemaker.com

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25 Thoughtful Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Join Us On Patreon - Next Book Club Read - The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul

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Embracing Every Moment: Mother’s Day Thoughts (Bitesize)

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 11:43:00 -0500

As a mother and grandmother, I appreciate the significance of treasuring every moment spent with family, especially when children are young. Learn to embrace each day as a gift from the Lord, both in the midst of daily chores and life’s beautiful moments

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The Narrow Road (Matthew 7:13-14 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Our text today comes in at the beginning of the end of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus knew many would be listening to his sermon and agreeing with it, praising His words, yet they would never enter into the kingdom.

We can’t just hear about the kingdom, agree about what we heard, and go on with our life. There is no neutrality with Jesus - we are either on the broad road to destruction or the narrow road to life.

Matthew 7:13-14:
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few

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Simple Steps to Ministry As We Go About Our Normal Days

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 16:47:09 -0500

Sometimes we can get so busy with the everyday details of life and can forget or miss the opportunity to minister to those the Lord has placed in our paths. The hope in today's episode is to get us to look outside the four walls of our home to see where we can meet the needs of others as we go about our everyday life.

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Ask and It Will Be Given (Matthew 7:7-12 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500

We're to be persistent in prayer. We need it just as much as we need oxygen to breathe. It's the lifeline to those of us in the Kingdom - we are still on earth, and as we pray with such persistence continually about all things, it reveals our great dependence on Jesus.

Only through Jesus working in and through us can we stay on the narrow path and walk in righteousness and holiness. So we must continually be asking and keep asking and seek and keep seeking and knock and keep knocking.

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Threats to Biblical Friendship

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Our friendships with one another will only have a solid foundation and be able to flourish if they are built on the solid rock of Christ.

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EP 79: Homemaking Matters: A Good God Working Out His Purposes in the Midst of Our Ordinary Days

Cultivating Beauty In Our Homes

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 16:51:23 -0500

Cultivating a beautiful home takes a lifetime and is worth every moment we take to pour the love of God into our families and the lives of others.

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Judge Not That You Not Be Judged (Matthew 7:1-6 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500

How do we judge correctly? What does it mean when Jesus tells us not to judge, and why shouldn't we wrongly judge others? There is much covered in our text today in Matthew 7:1-6 to walk through together.

When we see ourselves and our sin rightly, when we are broken by our sin and in a place of humility, we will be in a place to remove the speck from our brother's eye.

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Marriage Series on the Podcast & Blog

Romancing Your Husband

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 02:00:00 -0500

Do you find yourself so busy serving your husband that you don't take the time to delight in him? When he enters the room, do you stop and enjoy his presence, and does he know you are thankful to the Lord for him? Are you more concerned with him meeting your needs than you meeting his?

Listen in as we talk through some practical reminders to not let the busyness of the day rob you of taking the time to truly enjoy this man that captured your heart so many years ago.

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10 Things Helping Me To Manage My Days as a Homemaker

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500

I am sharing various systems, tools, and routines I've appreciated having available to me as a homemaker and how they help me manage my days.

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There Is No Need To Worry (Matthew 6:25-34 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500

When our priorities are wrong, our hearts will be anxious. Jesus reminds us in this passage that we don't need to worry about the necessities of life. We have a Heavenly Father who loves and cares for His children. Our worry shows a lack of faith and trust in our good God. The cure to our anxiety is to seek the Lord and not the things of this world.

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All episodes in the Sermon on the Mount Series on the blog

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Choosing a Mary Heart in a Martha Season

Fear Not - Luke 2:10

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

When we come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior - we are now to be people of faith - we are people who are told to Fear Not.

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Witnessing To Our Family Members

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 07:29:55 -0500

When I started writing this podcast, I wanted to title it “How Not to Witness to Family Members.” I believe I have more qualifications in writing about all my failures and missed opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those I love dearly and desire to see in heaven one day.⁣

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Planning a Christ-Focused Thanksgiving Mini-Course

Remembering to Thank God for His Blessings

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 16:14:26 -0500

With the season of Thanksgiving upon us, our minds seem to recognize the blessings the Lord has provided for us, and our hearts seem to be more thankful this time of year. But the reality is, this really should be the attitude we have daily as believers.

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Where Is Your Treasure? (Matthew 6:19-24 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 09:24:58 -0500

When the world and its treasures are your desire, you'll find yourself storing earthly treasures. When Jesus is your treasure, you will be devoted to living for His glory and the good of others.

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10 Characteristics of Humility

10 Manifestations of Humility

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Humility is simply thinking rightly of ourselves as we compare ourselves to the Lord. We are going to walk through ten comparisons of when our thinking is prideful versus when we are walking in humility before the Lord.

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EP 61: Fasting: Hungering After God (Spiritual Disciplines Series)

Fasting for the Glory of God (Matthew 6:16-18 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 19:04:31 -0500

Fasting is a way to remind us that everything we truly need is found in Christ and Him alone. Jesus fasted, and He expected that His followers would fast too.

The purpose of fasting is too long for the fullness and presence of Jesus in our lives. To hunger more for God than the food, He made for us to live on.

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All episodes in the Sermon on the Mount Series at the blog

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Sermon on the Mount Podcast Series

Love is not Selfish (1 Corinthians 13:5)

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 09:53:48 -0500

Love looks to the interests of others and puts others above itself. Christ is our perfect example of what unselfish love should look like.

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A Proper Pattern for Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 15:55:56 -0500

The Lord's prayer is a pattern for prayer that is beneficial for all those in Christ to use. The first three requests have to do with God's glory, and the last three requests are for our good.

Our eyes are on God first, and then our eyes are on us. It is the perfect pattern to use in our private and public prayer lives.

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My Favorite Cleaning Products & Tools

A Walk Through My Simple Cleaning Routine

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Our home cleaning should not take up most of our day and my hope in today's episode is to help you simplify your daily and weekly cleaning.

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Open Hearts in a Closed World Conference

5 Benefits We Have In Christ (Colossians 1:12-14)

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 08:30:33 -0500

Being reminded of all the riches we have in Christ is a sweet reminder to give thanks to the Lord in and through all things.

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Jumpstart Your Mornings Free Mini-Course

Six Thought Patterns of a Christian Mind (Philippians 4:8)

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 09:38:05 -0500

The sin in our lives begins in our thoughts—or as the bible calls it, "the heart" (Mark 7:20-23). We don't sin without it first starting in our minds. We're walking through Philippians 4:8 together to see how to replace sinful, wrong thinking by instead thinking thoughts that are God-honoring.

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How Should We Give? - Matthew 6:1-4 (Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 24 May 2022 05:00:00 -0500

When we grasp our relationship with God as our Father and rest securely in His care and love, it will change what we do and why we do it.
We will not be looking for the approval of men but only of God, and there is where we receive the greatest reward that isn't lost because it is done out of love for our Father in Heaven, and He has seen it, and He will reward us.

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Love Your Enemies - Matthew 5:43-48 (Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0500

We are to be imitators of Jesus who is God incarnate and we are to reflect his image to a lost and dying world. One way we do that is by loving our enemies

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Have We No Rights? - Matthew 5:38-42 (Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Today, we live in a culture all about self and our rights and self-esteem. Jesus desires those of us in Christ not to be self-focused and not to take offense so quickly that we immediately seek retaliation.

Our hope is to have our eyes so focused on Christ and who we are in Christ and our purpose and mission that we don't let insults or criticism bother or thwart our mission.

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EP 10: Planning Spiritual Priorities for the New Year

Lovingly Giving and Accepting Correction

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0500

I don't know about you, but I don't always take correction well initially. Usually, I come around, but sometimes it takes me much longer than it should. Pride is such an ugly sin, isn't it??

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Tell the Truth - Matthew 5:33-37 (Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Jesus calls us to be people of the truth and people who keep their word. We need to be people whose yes is yes and whose no is no.

Matthew 5:33-37:

"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.

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Spiritual Disciplines Planning Guide

Cultivating Patience with One Another

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0500

If someone were to ask your family if you were a patient person, what would their response be? I want to consider myself a patient person, but I'm not sure what my family would say, especially when I'm under stress or when things aren't working out on my timetable.

Are we patient with our children when they come to us with questions and requests at the most seemingly inconvenient times? How about difficult people in our lives? Or people who respond impatiently to us?

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Divorce and Remarriage (Matthew 5:31-32 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

I know many of our lives have been affected by divorce, and it is a sensitive subject. There is much hurt and pain in many of your lives still by divorce, so my desire isn't to cause you any more hurt—so please know my heart here before we start to dig in. I always want to be biblical, and the question that we're answering in all these episodes is to be, "What does God's Word say?"

Our text today is Matthew 5:31-31: and Jesus continues in it with His - "it was said" statements but "I say to you":

31 "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

From the beginning—from the creation of Adam and Eve in the garden— God's design was that marriage was to be a permanent covenant.

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BITESIZE: Dealing with Controversy as a Christian

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 13:26:35 -0500

As Christians who live in a world that denies absolute truth, we are going to run into controversy. Controversy is an area we need to learn to deal with in a God-honoring way when there are issues inside and outside our churches that need to be addressed.

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Dealing with Adulterous Hearts (Matthew 5:27-30 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We live in a culture today that is obsessed with sex and sensuality. From tv ads, magazines at grocery store checkouts, perfume ads, images of women in their undergarments in store windows, to the songs on the radio that glamorize infidelity—how is it possible to live a life of purity in such a society?

Our text in today's episode is Matthew 5:27-30:
27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

Adultery always first begins in the mind. In Matthew 5:28, Jesus has laid out to the Pharisees here and us that sexual purity doesn't just involve the physical act of indulging in sex outside marriage, but he gets to the heart of the matter.

Sexual sin begins in our hearts, and we need to radically do some major surgery to live a life of purity in the world we find ourselves in today.

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Being Keepers of Our Homes

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0500

One of the ways we adorn the gospel (as it states in Titus 2:10) or make it beautiful is by the care and keeping of our homes. We have been given the responsibility, as Christian women, to the care and management of our homes.

In this episode, the hope in our time together is that we capture the reality of God's hand in every aspect of our lives as workers at home. There is purpose ladies being worked out in our normal day-to-day life. God is always at work behind the scenes.

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The Sin of Anger (Matthew 5:21-26 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Are we always mindful as we think of our sinful anger, even though it doesn't lead to physically murdering someone, is committing murder against another person in our heart, and will also be judged by the Lord?

One commentator stated: "We would learn that we actually do worse things than these if we could only see our hearts as God is able to see them."

We are all murderers. Have you ever lost your temper, harbored a grudge against someone, gossiped, neglected their needs, spoke unkindly about them or to them, or have you been jealous?

We can destroy others in our thoughts and with our words, and as those who profess to be known and loved by Jesus, this should not be.

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Jesus, the Law and the Christian (Matthew 5:17-20 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Jesus did not come to do away with the Law—He came to fulfill it. As we continue on in our series on the Sermon on the Mount we will see how Christ fulfills the scriptures and what place the law has in our lives as His followers

Our text today is Matthew 5:17-20:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

HELPFUL LINKS:

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All episodes in the Sermon on the Mount Series at the blog

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Why Do Dead People Sin? - Sermon by Doug Ferrell

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Getting Things Done: A Walk Through Ephesians 5:15-16

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Do you, as a Christian, plan your days, so you're using your time wisely (Ephesians 5:15-16)? We don't just want to live to get things done or get the most things done; we want to get done what we should be focusing on or prioritizing.

Come listen in as we walk through Ephesians 5:15-16 together:

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

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A Walk Through Psalm 1 {Study Guide Included}

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 20:42:31 -0500

Psalm 1 stands as an introduction to the rest of the Psalms. It describes two different paths that we frequently see in the Psalms; the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. We're going to walk through this Psalm together in today's episode.

PDF Study Guide

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EP 69: Preaching the Gospel to Yourself

BITESIZE: God's Blessing Does Not Depend On Our Performance

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 05:25:16 -0500

"If God’s favor to us were based on our performance—we’re in trouble because even our best days are flawed with sin. We don’t always have pure motives and really in some way we are always looking out for ourselves.”

The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges

Full Show Notes: God's Blessing Does Not Depend On Our Performance

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You are the Light of the World (Sermon on the Mount Series - Matthew 5:14-16)

Tue, 25 May 2021 05:00:00 -0500

When Christians begin living like Christians, it affects the world around them. We are light to a dark world. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), and He is a great light that has come to those dwelling in darkness (Matthew 4:16).

Because of Christ's work in those of us who are in Christ, we are now light, and we're to live as children of light. We are to have nothing to do with darkness because we've been delivered from its domain (Colossians 1:12-13). We who were once not just in darkness, but we were darkness, now have the glorious privilege to be light in the Lord.

Our text today is Matthew 5:14-16:
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven

HELPFUL LINKS:

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10 Simple Tips for Beginning Homemakers

Sat, 08 May 2021 18:08:46 -0500

My hope today is to encourage some of you homemakers who feel overwhelmed when it comes to the care of your home. I'm still a learner even after 35 years and I hope you will always consider yourselves learners. What I'm sharing with you are tasks and routines that have worked well for me over the years so don't feel you need to put in place each one but maybe you can gain a tip or two today for your home.

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The Salt of the Earth (Sermon on the Mount Series - Matthew 5:13)

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 20:56:43 -0500

In this next episode of the Sermon on the Mount, we start with two common pictures we're all familiar with from everyday life. No matter your location in the world—you know what salt and light are. We are to be salt, and we are to be light or better to state as the scripture states - we ARE salt, and we ARE light.

We're going to take these one at a time, so today, we're just working through Matthew 5:13:

"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet

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BITESIZE: Practical Tips to Overcome Self-Pity

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 13:40:31 -0500

Self-pity is a selfish tendency that takes our eyes off Christ and puts them on ourselves. We forget “God works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” Are we able to give God “thanks in all things”?

Faith on Trial: Psalm 73 by Martyn Lloyd Jones

The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace

Full Show Notes: Practical Tips to Overcome Self-Pity

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Blessed are Those Who are Persecuted (Sermon on the Mount Series - Matthew 5:10-12)

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0500

As we hunger and thirst for righteousness, it will lead us to be persecuted for righteousness' sake. A true Christian will suffer persecution in one form or another.

Today we are on the eighth beatitude in Matthew 5:10-12:
10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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Simple Tips to Read More Books

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We all know the books we read shape us and grow us. Besides benefits like increasing our vocabulary and sharpening our brains, books also teach us, challenge us and bring us comfort. Many benefits are waiting for you as you take the time to pick up a good book.

We all have an ever-growing list of books we'd like to read each year. I'm sharing a few tips that have helped me choose what to read and make more time to fit it into a busy schedule.

Full Show Notes: Simple Tips to Read More Books

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Blessed are the Peacemakers (Sermon on the Mount Series - Matthew 5:9)

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0500

To be a peacemaker we need to be at peace with God. It starts here. We must no longer be God's enemy. God is the supreme peacemaker and now as his children, we should resemble our Father and be peacemakers

Today we are on the seventh beatitude in Matthew 5:9:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

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BITESIZE: Trusting God with the Impossible as Mothers

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 06:40:00 -0500

There is a book that has been a comfort to me in my walk with the Lord as I parent a prodigal by Ruth Bell Graham called Prodigals and Those Who Love Them: Words of Encouragement For Those Who Wait.

Waiting on a prodigal is hard, and this isn't a how-to book but a book of prayers and promises and meditations in the Word for troubled hearts. Her reminder is one I bring to mind often, “We mothers must take care of the possible and trust God for the impossible.

Full Show Notes: Trusting God with the Impossible as Mothers

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Showing True Biblical Love for Our Husbands

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0500

When our hearts are being ruled by the Spirit we will only desire the very best for someone. Jesus is our perfect example of how love acts (Eph. 5:2).

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Blessed are the Pure in Heart (Sermon on the Mount Series - Matthew 5:8)

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 05:00:00 -0500

The gift of physical sight is wonderful. Yet we are talking today about a seeing that surpasses that of even someone being blind and seeing for the first time. We are going to see God.

Today we are on the sixth beatitude in Matthew 5:8:
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

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4 Truths to Pray for One Another Blog Post

BITESIZE: 4 Truths to Pray for One Another

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 18:02:36 -0500

I love reading Paul's prison prayers (Ephesians 1:15-23, 3:14-21; Philippians 1:9-11, Colossians 1:9-12) because we see the heart of what the apostle desired for us. Amid this trial, Paul didn't pray the believers in Ephesus or Philippi would live their best life now. He didn't pray for material blessings, but his focus was on the spiritual and the unlimited and glorious blessings we have from being in Christ.

Wisdom in God's ways is something we should all desire to seek as believers and to pray for others that are in Christ. We should desire to understand what it looks like to live as those who have been changed by the Gospel.

Praying with Paul by D.A. Carson

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How a Timer Saves Me Time & Keeps Me Focused

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 18:43:24 -0500

Do you ever find yourself flitting from task to task and at the end of the day realizing you didn't finish any of them? Do you have trouble staying focused and on task?

A tool that has helped me immensely over the years to stay on tasks, whether it's household chores, reading, social media, blog work, paying bills, and a host of other items, is just a simple household timer

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My Favorite Timer

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My Top 5 Productivity Tips for Busy Homemakers

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 05:00:00 -0500

I'm sharing some of the simple tools that have helped me manage my time over my 34 years of being a wife, mother, and homemaker.

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Free Daily Docket PDF

Free Menu Planning PDF

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Developing a Daily Bible Reading Habit

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 21:10:26 -0500

We're getting ready to turn the calendar and on most of our lists or resolutions is to start a daily Bible reading habit. This is a good thing. What better discipline to develop as a believer than to desire to sit at the feet of Jesus daily and hear from Him through His Word and for us to speak to Him through prayer

Free PDF - Daily Time with the Lord

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BITESIZE: The Greatest Gift

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 05:00:00 -0500

As I've been reading in Isaiah, it has struck me how often God is not the first place I turn to when I need help. I may look to myself, my husband, or a friend, and although those aren't necessarily bad things it isn't where I should be turning to first.

Isaiah 9:6: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Blog Post - The Greatest Gift

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Sitting with Jesus in a Season of Busyness

BITESIZE: Sitting with Jesus in a Season of Busyness

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 05:00:00 -0500

One of the aspects of the life of Christ that stands out to me is that Jesus never seemed to be in a hurry. Even when crowds of people surrounded him he always made time for what was most important—time with His Father.

Luke 5:15-16: 15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book About a (Really) Big Problem by Kevin DeYoung

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Blessed are the Merciful (Matthew 5:7 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Those who know they have received mercy, show mercy. And the merciful are greatly blessed, because they will receive mercy from God himself.

And as the verse, Matthew 5:7 states: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

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EP 9 Christ-Focused Christmas Celebration Ideas

BITESIZE (INTRO): Keeping the Focus On Christ This Christmas

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 04:00:00 -0500

SHOW NOTES:

Thankful Homemaker

10 Questions to Ask at Your Christmas Gathering by Donald Whitney

Favorite Site for Evangelist Christmas Books to Giveaway- my top giveaway book choice

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Blessed are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness (Matthew 5:6 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 05:00:00 -0500

We all know what it feels like at times to be hungry or thirsty, but there are a hunger and thirst that should be far more concerning to us that we are going to dig into together today, and it’s not talking about physical hunger but spiritual hunger. It’s a hunger that will not be satisfied by food or water but only by God.

Augustine said: "Thou has made us for thyself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee."

The good news is Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:6 that our hunger and thirst can be satisfied: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

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Blessed are the Meek (Matthew 5:5 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 04:00:00 -0500

Meekness is often defined as power under control, and in the case of the Spirit-filled believer, he or she is under the control of God's Spirit. Meekness towards God is a disposition of spirit that accepts His dealings as good and doesn't dispute or resist them.

Listen in as we continue on in our series through the Sermon on the Mount - working through Matthew 5:5:

Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

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Blessed Are Those Who Mourn (Matthew 5:4 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0500

True spiritual mourning produces a hatred for our sin and a repentant heart that desires to be in a right relationship with the Lord. We should desire to be holy as God is holy.

Mourning is to be our lifestyle. It’s not just a one time moment when we first came to a recognition of our utter spiritual poverty before the Lord - it is a continual part of our lives as believers

We want to cultivate hearts that are sensitive to the sin our lives and mourn over them. We want our mourning to be genuine not just an emotional reaction or because we got caught but that there is true confession and repentance and genuine mourning

As we continue on in this current series, our text today is Matthew 5:4:
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

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The Riches of Poverty - (Matthew 5:3 - Sermon on the Mount Series)

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0500

The Sermon on the Mount lays out for us what it means to be a citizen of Christ's kingdom. The chapters we're working through in Matthew 5-7 layout for us what the Lord desires of those who profess Christ. It describes what our inward and outward desires and actions should look like of those who profess to be in Christ.

As we continue on in this current series, our text today is Matthew 5:3:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by Martyn Lloyd Jones

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Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount Series (Matthew 5:1-2)

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 05:30:00 -0500

John Stott opened his book The Message of the Sermon on the Mount: Christian Counter-Culture with this sentence:

"The Sermon on the Mount is probably the best-known part of the teaching of Jesus, though arguable it is the least understood, and certainly it is the least obeyed."

In our time today, we're going to work through Matthew 5:1-2 and discuss an overview of the Sermon as we begin a series on the Sermon on the Mount

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Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by Martyn Lloyd Jones

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Weekly Cleaning Schedule Free PDF Download

Weekly Home Blessing

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 06:50:30 -0500

The Weekly Home Blessing is a simple one hour routine that blesses your home and family for the week. It's a habit I modified from Flylady that has been part of my homemaking routine for almost 20 years. Come walk through how it might bless your home and family too.

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Sanctification: Growing in Holiness

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 03:00:00 -0500

As Christian women, there is a desire within us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We want to grow in holiness. We desire to become more like Christ. We desire to be more and more separated from sin.

We'd love to see the fruit of the Spirit evident in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. My hope is in our time together today to direct us towards a biblical view of the way God works, and we work in our sanctification.

HELPFUL LINKS:

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When Grace Comes Home: How the Doctrines of Grace Change Your Life by Terry L. Johnson

How Does Sanctification Work? by David Powlison

The BAR Podcast Network

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Cousin Camp Pinterest Board

Cousin Camp: Making Memories with Your Grandchildren

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 03:00:00 -0500

This summer, we decided to create a camp experience for our grandkids in our backyard. This camp is referred to by Cousin Camp because usually, you're intermingling cousins together. However, our daughter has our only grandchildren, so technically ours wasn't a "cousin camp," but it was still a fun way to create sweet memories with our grandchildren.

My husband, Doug Ferrell is a guest on today's episode, so come join us as we share all about our (as we called it) Camp Nana Papa week with our grandkids.

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Cousin Camp: A Grandparent's Guide to Creating Fun, Faith, and Memories that Last by Susan Alexander Yates

The Gospel Story Bible by Marty Machowski

Trello

Personalized Camp T-Shirts

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Encouraging Your Husband {Elisabeth Elliot's 80/20 Rule}

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 08:07:53 -0500

So many times as wives, we can focus more on what our husbands are doing wrong instead of focusing our hearts on what they are doing right.

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Logos Bible Software Training Webinar

Elisabeth Elliot on Hints for a Quiet Time

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 07:51:08 -0500

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Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot

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Learning from Elisabeth Elliot: A List of Resources

Do the Next Thing {A Reminder from Elisabeth Elliot}

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 20:47:20 -0500

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Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot

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Spiritual Disciplines Series

Homemaking Matters: A Good God Working Our His Purposes in the Midst of Our Ordinary Days

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 19:17:00 -0500

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Who Am I?: Identity in Christ by Jerry Bridges

20 Ways to Find Time with the Lord When Your Days are Crazy Busy - Free PDF

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The Gospel Condensed - Sermon by Doug Ferrell

Where is My Hope?

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 14:48:07 -0500

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The Bible Recap

Learning to Read, Understand, and Love the Bible with Tara-Leigh Cobble @Alisa Childers Podcast

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Menu Planning Made Easy Online Course

Simple Summertime Meal Planning Tips

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 16:46:12 -0500

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Free Weekly Menu Planning PDF

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Thoughtful Father's Day Gift Ideas

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 09:53:58 -0500

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The Lord Appoints Our Portion

Tue, 19 May 2020 03:00:00 -0500

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Encouragement in Times of a Pandemic

Tue, 05 May 2020 03:00:00 -0500

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An All Knowing God - A Walk Through Psalm 139

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 03:00:00 -0500

EP 31: The Supremacy of God Ligonier Connect Contentment Study Thankful Homemaker Facebook Group The BAR Network Just Thinking Podcast The BAR Podcast Covenant Eyes

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One Thing is Necessary

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 21:35:31 -0500

To Seek and Save: Daily Reflections on the Road to the Cross by Sinclair Ferguson

Ligonier Connect Contentment Thankful Homemaker Group Study

Ligonier Connect Free Group Study Info

Podcast EP 71: Prepare and Not Panic

Meal Planning Made Easy

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Thankful Homemaker Instagram

Prepare and Not Panic

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 18:47:56 -0500

Preparation is Not Panic and Confusion is Not Chaos @Tim Challies

Ligonier Teaching Series Free to Stream

Ken Ham Facebook Live Videos

Andrew Peterson Wingfeather Series Book One Read Aloud

G3 Conference App

10 Ways in Which this Coronavirus Pandemic Can Be for Our Good @Biblical Spirituality Press

How Do We Make Sense of the Coronavirus? - @Ask Pastor John

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My Abortion Testimony at the Blog

Finding Forgiveness After an Abortion

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0500

Abortion Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

Haven Today Radio Program

Article on Haven Today

Facebook Live Video from Grace Community Church (my testimony comes in at approximately 32 minutes into the service)

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How to Preach the Gospel to Yourself

EP 69: Preaching the Gospel to Yourself

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 10:18:04 -0500

Preaching the gospel to yourself. It’s a phrase we’ve all heard and we all agree with but deep down we’re like, okay what does that really look like? Or how do I make that practical in my day-to-day life when my marriage is hard? Or the kids are out of control? Or there’s an illness in my family or I’m just stuck in a sinful pattern? Or the house is in chaos and I don’t know where to begin?

The reality is we’re always saying something to ourselves in our minds. Especially in those moments of chaos or difficulty. Is what we're speaking to ourselves centered on the truths of God’s Word or are we buying into the lies of the world?

"Have you realized that most of the unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?"

~ Martyn Lloyd Jones

We need to be talking to ourselves and not just listening to ourselves. But what do we need to be talking to ourselves about? This is what we're going to work through together in today's podcast.

God's Blessing Does Not Depend on Our Performance

What is the Gospel?

Resources Mentioned:

G3 Conference

Just Thinking Podcast

The Gospel Condensed - My Husband's sermon on Romans 8:1

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Menu Planning Made Easy Online Course

EP 68 Implementing a Realistic Morning Routine

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 03:00:00 -0500

It's the start of a New Year, and many of us have goals and resolutions on our minds, and those are good things. One that has been on my list is to re-evaluate my morning routine

We know routines and habits are super helpful when we stick with them. Our days run smoother, and we go about them pretty effortlessly in time. They just happen, and our brains don't have to think so hard about them anymore. Brushing our teeth is a good example. You don't think about it—you just do it.

Homemaker's Friend Daily Planner

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EP 67 Speech Seasoned with Grace and Kindness

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0500

With the holiday season before us, many of us may find ourselves around people who can be a challenge to communicate without it turning into a heated discussion. We may be the ones challenging to communicate with.

As I pondered the topic of speech seasoned with grace and truth, one area that came to my mind is when I've messed up, and someone overlooked it and offered me grace. They didn't feel the need to correct me or even bring it up at a later time.

Have you ever had a person like that in your life? Or are you that person in someone else's life? The reality is, we know when we've messed up.

When our speech is seasoned with grace and kindness it will overlook mistakes in the lives of others and encourage instead of discouraging.

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EP 66 Giving Thanks in All Things

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0500

My heart doesn't tend to go towards giving thanks during the difficult circumstances in my life. Honestly, my heart doesn't automatically go to giving thanks even in the good times of my life. I’m reminded in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that giving thanks in all things is God's will for us

Ingratitude is a sin that fails to acknowledge God as the giver of all things. Gratitude is an attitude that honors God. It acknowledges that He is the giver of all things.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 it states:

Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

We're given three exhortations in those verses: Rejoice, pray, and be thankful. Why? Because this is God's will. Joyful, prayerful, and thankful Christians make the gospel attractive to a watching world.

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EP 65 Our Motives Matter: Why We Do What We Do

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 03:00:00 -0500

Have you ever been kind to someone outwardly, all the while you were harboring bitterness or anger towards them on the inside? What about thinking the best of others? I fight a critical spirit, and it's an area I continually pray for the Lord to work in my heart to not judge the motives of others.

God's work of sanctification comes about by continuing to change us more into the image of Christ. Our motives need to be brought into obedience to God's Word if we desire to see real change in our lives.

As we take this time to spend in the Sermon on the Mount and in 1 Corinthians 13 my hope is it will get us pondering and asking the Lord to search our hearts and more specifically our heart motives on why we do what we do and how we judge the motives of others

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EP 64: What is the Best Use of My Time?

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 03:00:00 -0500

How do we determine what is the best use of our time? We know amid the mundaneness of our days, the work the Lord has given us in our homes matters for eternity. God has a purpose in all things. There is no secular work in Christ; all is sacred.

As homemakers, we desire to be productive and accomplish much in the time we’re given. It feels good when we check those tasks off our to-do lists and then the reality hits that most of them are back on it again tomorrow. It’s hard sometimes to determine how to prioritize our days and feel like we are getting things done.

How do we determine what to do next? I’ve quoted Elisabeth Elliot’s words to you often of “Do the Next Thing,” but what is the next best thing to do? How do we determine we are using our time wisely?

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EP 63 Fruitful Living in the Empty Nest Years

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 03:05:00 -0500

What does it look like to live a fruitful life in the empty nest years? What do I do now? What does my day to day life look like? Am I needed anymore? These are questions that raced through my mind as the empty nest season approached and was quickly upon me.

I don't have all the answers, but I desire to share some thoughts with you on lessons the Lord has taught me and what He continues to teach me in this season that I've grown to cherish much more than I initially thought I would.

Do you desire to flourish in your empty nest years? What about my younger readers? Please don't pass this one up because it will hopefully give you something to think about and to encourage you as you interact with the older women in your life.

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EP 62: Gleanings from the Life of Susie Spurgeon

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 03:00:00 -0500

Most of us have been impacted by the writings of Charles Spurgeon, whether it’s through books, his sermons or even the many quotes we come across as we scroll through our social media feeds. Susannah Spurgeon is probably not as familiar to us except for the knowledge that we know she was married to Charles.

My first introduction to Susannah’s writings was in a favored devotional of mine called Seasons of the Heart. Susannah’s writings are appealing as Ray Rhodes Jr. explained so beautifully:

“for she brings her readers into her thoughts of her heart, as if she has poured a cup of tea for her guests, invited them to draw near to the fire, and engaged them in conversation. She respected her readers, treating them as friends.”

Reading Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon, wife of Charles H. Spurgeon, has made me feel as if I just got to spend time with a dear friend and I didn’t want our time to come to an end. It is a well written, complete biography filled with historical records, personal writings from the Spurgeon’s and wonderful testimonies from family and friends.

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EP 61: Fasting: Hungering for God (Spiritual Disciplines Series)

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 03:05:00 -0500

Fasting is a way to show the Lord we enjoy Him more than His gifts. It turns our focus on Jesus because we know He is the only one who can satisfy our spiritual hunger. We desire to be filled with the Lord.

You can find all podcasts on the Spiritual Disciplines in this series here. The two books I'm utilizing the most for the series are Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life and Habits of Grace.

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EP 60: Gently Correcting Our Children

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 03:00:00 -0500

We are called in Ephesians 4:29 to respond with words that give grace, encourage, and build up. This includes those hard moments when our kids are sinfully disobedient. If my motives to correct are focused on my pride or being inconvenienced, then it's not going to come out in a way that is going to be in the spirit of Ephesians 4:29.

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EP 59: Evangelism (Spiritual Disciplines Series)

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 03:05:00 -0500

What is evangelism? The dictionary definition defines it as the spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness.

So evangelism is the announcement, proclamation, and preaching of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), which is the good news of and about Jesus Christ. It is a verbal message.

As Christians, we are all called to be God’s mouthpieces. Along with being salt and light to a lost world, we are called to open our mouths and share the good news—the best news we could ever share.

Donald Whitney defines evangelism:

"It is clearly presenting Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to sinful people with the hope that they may see their sinfulness against a holy God and repent and put their faith and trust in Christ alone for salvation."

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EP 58: A Letter to My Younger Self

Mon, 27 May 2019 19:52:58 -0500

As I am now over half a century old, I wanted to share some of the thoughts that go through my mind as I look back over the years of my marriage and raising our family. There are so many good memories and things I wouldn't change, but there are many things I wish I would have grasped at a younger age.

If I could go back here are some of the most important things I would like to tell my younger self:

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EP 57: Spiritual Journaling (Spiritual Disciplines Series)

Tue, 14 May 2019 03:00:00 -0500

Spiritual journaling is a way to slow our lives down and ponder deeply over the events of the day. In my life journaling has helped me to grow spiritually by discerning my thoughts and motives. It has shown me areas where I need to give thanks and praise to the Lord. My journaling time has reminded me of situations or people I need to be in prayer for.

Journaling is an excellent time for me to see areas of weakness and set spiritual goals and not always just spiritual but other areas of my life that need some help too. Maybe I need to be better disciplined in my internet habits, or my homekeeping or some of my relationships may need time and attention. This is a good time to evaluate all areas of my life.

God’s Word doesn’t specifically talk about journaling it is a spiritual discipline that many saints over the years have benefitted from and I think of how we have profited by the journals of the saints of the past. I think of the journals like the diary of David Brainerd by Jonathan Edwards, or George Mueller’s autobiography or Jim Elliot’s journal put together by Elisabeth Elliot. These are treasures we have of how the Lord worked in and through their lives.

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EP 56: Prayer (Spiritual Disciplines Series)

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 03:05:00 -0500

Prayer is simply talking to God. As believers, we have access to God the Father through our relationship with Jesus Christ. Prayer reminds us we are dependent on God for every aspect of our lives and we grow in that relationship by communing with Him in prayer. Donald Whitney reminds us in regards to the spiritual disciplines that prayer is second only to Bible intake in the order of importance.

Prayer is not demanding but we are coming before the Lord with open hands to what He knows is best for us.

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EP 55: Bible Study (Spiritual Disciplines Series)

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 03:05:00 -0500

We're continuing in a series on the Spiritual Disciplines and today's episode is on Bible Study. We're going to talk about the benefits, explain some basic Bible study methods, share some resources to help you get started digging into the Word.

Jerry Bridges says in regard to God’s Word - "Reading gives us breadth, but study gives us depth."

*I stated in the podcast the next episode in the Spiritual Disciplines series will be on prayer, and it will be up on Tuesday, April 23rd instead of April 22nd.

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EP 54: Meditation on God's Word & Scripture Memory (Spiritual Disciplines Series)

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0500

We all want to grow in our walk as Christians. We've talked about how often we read God’s Word close the book and forget what we’ve read. We can blame our memories or our intelligence or our age, but the reality is it has more to do with our method than our abilities. Today's podcast episode is going to address areas that are important to our growth as believers: Meditation on God's Word and Scripture Memory.

God desires us all to grow in the grace and knowledge of His Word, so we are all capable and equipped as believers by the work of Spirit of God in us.

We talked in our last episode on bible reading that we need to read the Word and hear the Word preached but just doing those two things doesn't always guarantee we will remember or be able to apply what we read. So then we briefly touched on meditating on the Word because this is where growth starts to come about.

Donald Whitney described it as:

“While hearing and reading plant the seed of Scripture into the soil of our souls, other disciplines are the water and sun God uses to bring the growth and fruit of Christlikeness in our lives.”

When we talk about meditation, please don’t get the image of a yoga class or some other kind of New Age practice. What the world describes as meditation is not what Christian meditation is. Again we are not emptying our minds, but in Christian meditation, we are filling our mind with God and His truth.

Donald Whitney gives us a good definition:

"Let’s define meditation as deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture, or upon life from a scriptural perspective, for the purposes of understanding, application, and prayer."

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EP 52: Introduction to the Spiritual Disciplines

EP 53: Daily Bible Reading (Spiritual Disciplines Series)

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0500

We are continuing in a series here at the podcast on the Spiritual Disciplines. On today's episode, we are going to discuss the importance of reading God's Word along with some practical helps to implement it into our days.

We have a God that we can know and meet with and because of that, we should meet with God on a regular daily basis.

My hope is by the end of the podcast today that we would all see and understand why we need to do this as those who are born again - first off if we’re in Christ God is our Father, and we are His children. I want to spend time with my Heavenly Father. I desire to know Him more because as I do that I get a clearer understanding of who I am in light of Him and it changes my perspective of the world as I begin to see all of life and the world through His perspective. This only comes about as I spend time with Him in worship, in fellowship and in the reading of His Word—which is the topic today.

I can only come before God because of Jesus—He is the mediator between God and sinful man. If we’re in Christ, we have access to the Father, and we can meet with Him and know Him because of Jesus.

Hebrews 4:16 tells us - Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

John 17:17 tells sanctify them in truth - your word is truth. Jesus is praying for our sanctification the process of being made more and more into Christlikeness. It’s to be like Jesus. He is asking the Father to do this by the truth. What is truth? God’s Word is truth. We are sanctified by truth - God’s Word is truth, so we are sanctified by the Word of God. I could just stop here because that’s a pretty good reason enough for us to be in the Word on a regular daily basis.

If you haven't listened to the first one in this series you can do that here - EP 52 Introduction to the Spiritual Disciplines

Show Notes:

Philippians 4:8 Questions to Help You Meditate on the Word:

-What is true about this, or what truth does it exemplify?

-What is honorable about this?

-What is just or right about this?

-What is pure about this, or how does it exemplify purity?

-What is lovely about this?

-What is commendable about this?

-What is excellent about this (that excels others of this kind)?

-What is praiseworthy about this?

~ Above Questions taken from Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life

Hebrews 4:16

John 17:17

2 Peter 1:20-21

2 Timothy 3:16

Galatians 1:12

2 Peter 3:15-16

Matthew 4:4

Nehemiah 8:1-4

1 Timothy 4:13

Luke 11:28

1 Timothy 4:7

Matthew 19:4

Mark 12:10

Philippians 4:8

Seeking Whatever is Good(Review of All That's Good by Hannah Anderson)

Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines by David Mathis

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney

Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Minds by Jen Wilkin

What is a Healthy Church Member? by Thabiti M. Anyabwile

Listen Up! A Practical Guide to Listening to Sermons by Christopher Ash

The Daily Bible (NIV) Chronological by F. LaGard Smith

ESV Daily Reading Bible by Crossway

Reading Plan App

Infographic: You Have More Time for Bible Reading than You Think

Develop a Daily Bible Reading Habit - Find Bible Reading plan options in this post

Robert Murray M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

Elisabeth Elliot on Hints for a Quiet Time

Podcast EP 15: Prioritizing God's Word When Life is Busy

Women's Hope Podcast

YouVersion Bible App

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EP 52: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life - Introduction

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0500

We're starting a new series here at the podcast on the spiritual disciplines. Today's episode is introducing us to what they are and the vital role they play in our sanctification as believers.

In this series, we’re going to talk about why we need to practice them and share practical biblical ways how we as followers of Jesus Christ can pursue Christlikeness through these means of grace.

The means of grace or spiritual disciplines (Bible intake, prayer, and fellowship the three main areas and we’ll work through each of them more each episode) are ways the Holy Spirit conforms us more and more into the image of Christ.

I have two primary resources in addition to scripture that I'm utilizing in this series, and they are Donald Whitney's book called, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life and Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines by David Mathis. I encourage you if you want to dig a bit deeper to grab a copy of both or one of these as we work through them together.

Spiritual Disciplines we hope to cover in this series: Bible reading, Bible Study, Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Evangelism, Journaling, Fellowship and Service.

Show Notes:

Romans 8:28

1 John 3:2

1 Peter 1:16

1 Timothy 4:7-8

John 14:6

Acts 2:42

Romans 8:29

Philippians 1:6

Philippians 3:8

John 17:3

Colossians 1:9-11

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney

Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines by David Mathis

Simplify Your Spiritual Life: Spiritual Disciplines for the Overwhelmed by Donald Whitney

The Disciplines of the Christian Life by Eric Liddell

Holy Helps for a Godly Life by Richard Rogers

Podcast EP 6: What Does Self-Discipline Look Like in Our Homes @Thankful Homemaker

The Center for Biblical Spirituality- Donald Whitney's Website (tons of helpful resources to dig into)

What are the Spiritual Disciplines @Desiring God

What are the Spiritual Disciplines @Got Questions

Find the full show notes at the blog here - ThankfulHomemaker.com

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Marriage Series at Thankful Homemaker

EP 51: Our Mundane Moments Matter

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 04:00:00 -0500

How many times do we give thanks to the Lord for the ministry He has given us at home. Are we thankful for the mundane everyday moments or are we are only thankful when we think we are doing “great” things for the Lord?

We live in God's home. He owns it. He has gifted it to us and given us the job of stewardship over it. He's put us in charge, and we are responsible to Him.

As believers, it should make us work harder, and we shouldn't desire to escape from work or difficult situations because we know they are all with a purpose and we also know we are equipped to meet these situations in Christ.

Mundane tasks are what make up most of our days. Everything matters —all of life is sacred. Once we’re in Christ there is no separation of secular or sacred. Every moment is a holy moment that God has ordained.

Do we think biblically about our time and what we see as these seemingly mundane tasks? We don’t see many photos on social media of people folding laundry or washing dishes—there’s no special medals or awards for these tasks. This is where we need to continually ask the Lord to gives us a mindset of remembering that the mundane matters. It's in these moments that He is growing us in holiness.

Show Notes:

G3 Conference

Cultivating a Heart for Missions in Your Family

Titus 2:3-5

Colossians 3:23

Colossians 3:17

1 Corinthians 10:31

Romans 12:1-2

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon, Wife of Charles H. Spurgeon by Ray Rhodes Jr.

Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home by Gloria Furman

Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul Tripp

Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother by Carolyn Mahaney

Find the full show notes at the blog here - ThankfulHomemaker.com

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Podcast EP 50: Lessons from the Life of Mary

Encore Episode: Serving with a Mary Heart in a Martha Season

Fri, 21 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0500

I'm re-sharing a previous episode I need to re-listen to this time of year. I'm praying it will be an encouragement to you today.

We are already nearing Christmas Eve and plans that I had to bake or buy or clean haven’t all been finished. There are gifts I wanted to purchase or send that didn’t happen. There are cookies I wanted to bake that I didn’t get too and areas I wanted to tidy at home that I didn’t even get close to doing. But I want to share with you today reminders that I’m talking to myself about what I am choosing. I’m hoping to help us keep our focus on the main thing this Christmas season.

You can read the full podcast here, but my hope is you will sit with me for just a few minutes of your day and listen in to the podcast and let me pour into you a bit.

Christmas Posts:

Christ-Focused Gift Guide for the Whole Family

Christmas Love, 1 Corinthians Style

Podcast EP 9: Christ-Focused Christmas Celebration Ideas

Thoughts to Ponder as You Celebrate Christmas

Find the full show notes at the blog here - ThankfulHomemaker.com

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John MacArthur Study Bible

EP 50: Lessons from the Life of Mary

Wed, 19 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0500

Every Christmas season I look forward to reading the account of the birth of Christ in Luke together as a family on Christmas morning. I'm amazed at Mary's faith. What must have gone through her mind when Gabriel approached her? How did she process the news that she and Joseph were to raise the Son of God? What depths of sorrow did she endure while watching her Son die a horrific death on a cross? There are many lessons we can learn from Mary’s life, but I want to share just ten today.

Show Notes:

1. Mary knew God's Word. (Luke 1:54-55)

2. Mary was filled with the Spirit. (Luke 1:35)

3. Mary said "yes" to God's plan for her life. (Luke 1:38)

4. Mary was quiet before the Lord and meditated on all He had done in her life. (Luke 2:19, Luke 2:51)

5. Mary turned to Jesus for help when she had a problem to be solved. (John 2:3-5)

6. Mary was a woman of worship.(Luke 1:46-47)

7. Mary trusted in the Lord and waited on the His timing. (Matthew 1:19-20)

8. Mary was a chosen vessel of the Lord. (Luke 1:30-31)

9. Mary was a faithful servant. (John 19:25)

10. Mary knew Jesus was dying on the cross for her sins. (Luke 2:34-35)

Scripture & Resources:

Luke 2:19

Matthew 7:21

Romans 8:9-10

Mary of Nazareth@Revive Our Hearts

Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur

My Soul Magnifies the Lord: Meditations on the Meaning of Christmas by Martyn Lloyd-Jones

10 Lessons from the Life of Mary

Christmas Love, 1 Corinthians 13 Style

Podcast EP 9: Christ-Focused Christmas Celebration Ideas

Our Simple Family Christmas Traditions

Thoughts to Ponder as You Celebrate Christmas

How to Avoid the Comparison Trap this Christmas Season

Podcast EP 11: Serving with a Mary Heart in a Martha Season

Find the full show notes at the blog here - ThankfulHomemaker.com

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John 15 Study Doorposts Blog

EP 49: The Benefits of Abiding in Christ

Wed, 12 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0500

Many times in my walk as a believer I have heard and read the term "abide in Christ" and didn't have a full understanding of what that meant. I know abide means to remain in, and I pictured it as a state of resting in Christ. Studying through John 15 has been a help to me in grasping fully what our Lord meant as he walked and talked with His disciples on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Picture this; our Lord had just left the Upper Room in John 13 & 14 where He and the disciples shared a Passover meal together. During their time together in the Upper Room Jesus washed the disciple's feet and He dismissed Judas who would betray him (John 13). Now in John 15, they are headed in the darkness of the night to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus's timing in giving this teaching to his disciples was needed as they were going to face hard times ahead and this lesson is relevant to us today as we meet difficult days. So let's learn together what it looks like to abide in Christ, be a real disciple and bear fruit for our Lord. I'm working through John 15:1-11 today.

Scripture & Resources:

John 13

John 14

John 15:1-11

Galatians 5:22-23

Isaiah 53:3

1 Peter 1:8

Abiding in Christ: Becoming Like Christ through an Abiding Relationship with Him by Paul Chappell

What Does it Mean to Abide in Christ?

Christmas Posts:

Christ-Focused Gift Guide for the Whole Family

Christmas Love, 1 Corinthians Style

Podcast EP 9: Christ-Focused Christmas Celebration Ideas

Thoughts to Ponder as You Celebrate Christmas

Podcast EP 11: Serving with a Mary Heart in a Martha Season

Find the full show notes at the blog here - ThankfulHomemaker.com

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10 Questions to Ask at a Christmas Gathering

Encore Episode: Celebrating a Christ-Focused Christmas

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0500

It’s not the gingerbread houses or cookies or special meals that will have the most impact on your family. It is the attitude of your heart. It is them seeing the Gospel lived out in your day to day life – even in the midst of busy seasons.

As the busy Christmas season is upon us we can find ourselves all wrapped up (literally wrapping too) in planning, cooking, cleaning, shopping, decorating, ministry activities and a multitude of other tasks that seem to come about during the Christmas season in addition to just the normal activities of life that we are dealing with.

I can lose focus and need to continue to pray to the Lord to remind me to have the heart of Mary and not get caught up with the attitude of Martha in all that needs to be done. I’m a very task focused person, and it’s how my mind works so I need to be intentional and prayerful to not miss the wonder of the Christmas season.

The Christmas season can be a time – a reminder to us to refocus - to again to think deeply about the realities of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

Scripture & Resources:

Luke 1:28-29

Luke 2:19

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Philippians 2:14

Matthew 25:40

Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul Tripp

Good News of Great Joy at Desiring God

Ever Thine Home

Jesus Unmasked by Todd Friel

Wretched.org

Answers in Genesis Christmas Cards

14 Simple Outreach Ideas with an Eternal Focus

Remember When Tractat Living Waters

Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper

ESV Giveaway Bibles

Related Resources:

Celebrating Advent: Looking Back and Looking Forward

10 Simple & Practical Hostess Gifts

Christ-Focused Gift Guide for the Whole Family

Christ-Focused Christmas Gift Guide 2017

Podcast Ep 11: Serving with a Mary Heart in a Martha Season

14 Simple Outreach Ideas with an Eternal Focus

Find the Show Notes for this episode at ThankfulHomemaker.com

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Subscribe to ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 48: Cultivating Gentleness

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0500

We live in a world where it can be quick to pass judgments instead of seeing the best in others. We can find ourselves expressing our opinions harshly when we differ from one another.

Watching debates between Christians online when there is a disagreement makes me cringe a bit when I see the responses towards one another not gentle and kind. Disagreement is inevitable, but there is a way as believers that God’s Word lays out for us what that should look like.

There is the reality of being hurt by the words of others and instead of taking the way of meekness, we take the route of defending our rights.

Bringing it closer to home, how are your responses to those you are closest? What does a gentle spirit look like in the context of your marriage or with your children?

Scriptures & References:

1 Peter 3:4

Matthew 5:5

Romans 8:28

Isaiah 41:17

Matthew 21:5

Matthew 11:29

Ephesians 4:29

Philippians 4:5

1 Peter 3:15

James 1:5

James 3:17

Cultivating a Gentle Spirit @Thankful Homemaker

What Does it Mean to Be Poor in Spirit? @Got Questions

Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by D. Martin Lloyd Jones

For the complete Show Notes head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

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Martha Peace's "Put On, Put Off" Study

Encore Episode: Putting on an Attitude of Love in Our Homes

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0500

How can we as believers "put on" an attitude of love in our homes? What does it look like to "put off" sinful responses and attitudes and "put on" God-honoring attitudes? I'm hoping today to encourage you that as believers we can "put on" attitudes and behaviors that are God-honoring. If we are in Christ, He has equipped us to do so through His presence within us and through our intake of God's truth.

We're working through Ephesians 4:22-24 together today:

22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

We have a new nature when we receive Christ and are born again – we become a totally different individual – we’re now a citizen of heaven

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation the old has gone the new has come.

~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

The apostle Paul reminds us throughout his epistles that we have a new nature. It affects our mind, heart, knowledge, wisdom, love, desires and every aspect of our being. According to God’s Word, we are new – transformed.

As believers, we now have a new nature. Our behavior is now able to match our new nature because Christ is in us. We are risen with Christ, and we should now behave in accordance with who we are.

Scripture & Resources:

Ephesians 4:22-24

Acts 7:58

Romans 3:12

1 Peter 2:1

Acts 12:21

Colossians 3:9-11

Philippians 2:12

2 Corinthians 5:17

Ephesians 4:1

Philippians 4:8

Galatians 5:22-23

Ephesians 5:2

1 Timothy 4:7-8

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

1 John 5:3

The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul

The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace

Putting on an Attitude of Love in Your Home

Podcast Ep. 15: Prioritizing God's Word When Life is Busy

For the full Show Notes visit ThankfulHomemaker.com

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Encore Episode: Taming Our Tongues

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0500

On this podcast episode of Thankful Homemaker, we're talking about how our tongues can get us into so much trouble. We tend to have many words. Many times we're not careful with our words and say things that are slanderous, or gossip or sadly at times even malicious. This should not be for women who love the Lord and are loved and known by Him. Let's encourage each other today to speak words that glorify and honor the Lord.

Scripture References & Other Resources Mentioned:

Colossians 4:6

Proverbs 141:3

James 3:2

James 3:8

James 3:9-10

Ephesians 4:31

Matthew 18:15

Galatians 6:1

Ephesians 4:32

Proverbs 10:19

Proverbs 31:26

Ephesians 4:29

Matthew 12:34

Colossians 3:15-17

James Online Bible Study by Jen Wilkin

For the full Show Notes visit ThankfulHomemaker.com

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For Complete Show Notes visit ThankfulHomemaker.com

Episode 47: Simple Ideas for a Christ Centered Thanksgiving

Tue, 06 Nov 2018 20:30:58 -0500

I know as women we can get caught in our to-do lists and forget to give thanks in and through all things – even in the gift of preparing to serve others with the hope of pointing them to the One who we truly have all things to be thankful for!

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

My hope today is to simplify your holiday planning a bit.

So you’re getting this two weeks before Thanksgiving with the hopes it will be a help with maybe getting a bit more organized than you have in past years and also starting to think about how you can focus your day on the Lord.

I want you to be able to keep your family's and your focus on Christ and not get caught up in all the things on your seemingly long to do list. Thanksgiving should be a time of feasting on the abundant grace of God.

I'm sharing below my simple planning for one of my favorite family traditions to celebrate together along with some bits of help at the end to keep the focus of the meal on Christ and Who we are truly giving thanks to. My hope always is to spark ideas in ways you can make much of Christ during your time together.

“Take a little time to make ordinary things extraordinary.”

~ Emilie Barnes

Scripture & Resources:

Colossians 3:15

Psalm 100

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Simple Planning Guide for a Stress-Free and Christ-Focused Thanksgiving Dinner-@Thankful Homemaker

Our Simple Thanksgiving Traditions- @Thankful Homemaker

Weekend Coffee Break {Thanksgiving Edition}- Some helpful links & resources - @Thankful Homemaker

Chocolate Pie Recipe- in this post

Pioneer Woman's Mashed Potatoes

For Other Recipes Mentioned check out this post.

Getting Ready for Company Fast- @Thankful Homemaker

Podcast Episode 7: Getting Ready for Company Fast

Valley of Vision Prayer

History of Thanksgiving- @Got Questions

Conversation Starters

Ever Thine Home - What are you thankful for? Printable

The Valley of Vision: Book of Puritan Prayers by Arthur Bennett

Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember by Barbara Rainey

Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas

Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

Revive Our Hearts 30 Day Gratitude Challenge

Thanksgiving Pinterest Board - many more ideas, recipes, and coloring sheet links for kids

Thankfulness to God is a recognition that God in His goodness and faithfulness has provided for us and cared for us, both physically and spiritually. It is a recognition that we are totally dependent upon Him; that all that we are and have comes from God.

~ Jerry Bridges

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Encore Episode: What Does Self-Discipline Look Like in Our Homes?

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 03:00:00 -0500

Self Discipline is essential to spiritual growth and it is useful in our lives in so many ways. Living lives that are disciplined means saying, “yes” to God in every area of our lives.

Jesus is our ultimate example of what it looks like to live a disciplined life. He chose both dependence and obedience to His Father. As Christians, we too are called to dependence and obedience to our Father.

Self-discipline is primary to our spiritual growth. In 1 Timothy 4:7 We are called to discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness. It means to exercise control over one’s self. It’s the ability to keep ourselves under control.

My Practical List:

Spend time with the Lord daily
Take care of the tasks that are most difficult early in the day.
Make sure you finish what you start.
Take the time to get organized - one room at a time.
Learn to deny yourself.

Scripture References & Other Resources Mentioned:

1 Timothy 4:7

Galatians 5:22-23

John 15

1 Peter 1:13

Ephesians 4:14

1 Corinthians 7:22

Matthew 6:24

Matthew 11:30

Romans 6:22

Ephesians 2:8-10

Ephesians 5:15-16

Ecclesiastes 3

1 Corinthians 10:31

Discipline: The Glad Surrender by Elisabeth Elliot

Find all the Show Notes & Resources mentioned at ThankfulHomemaker.com

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Podcast Ep. 6: What Does Self-Discipline Look Like in Our Homes

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Encore Episode: Is Your Smartphone Changing You?

Wed, 24 Oct 2018 03:00:00 -0500

On today’s Encore Episode, we’re going to talk about our cell phone use and discuss whether we master our cell phones or do they master us. This podcast was on my mind because of two recent posts at Tim Challies blog on the use of our phones. I recently read the book, 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing Youby Tony Reinke and it was a challenging read.

I’m going to share with you some of what I took from that book to get us started, some thoughts on Tim Challies posting about him going back to a “dumb phone” and as we close today some questions for us to ponder from a quiz Tim Challies posted online called Are You Addicted to Your Phone? At the close, I share some ways I desire to make changes with the use of my phone in my life.

"We check our smartphones about 81,500 times each year, or once every 4.3 minutes of our waking lives."

~ Tony Reinke

I'm working on a series on marriage for the podcast in the future, and I hope to get my husband on the podcast with me so we can do a few together.I’d love you all to “meet” him. I love listening to him and learning from him. The Lord has given him much wisdom and truly being around him makes me want to be more like Jesus, so I’m thankful to get to have him share here with you all.

Scripture & Resources:

2 Corinthians 3:18

12 Ways Your Phone is Changing Youby Tony Reinke

Are You Addicted to Your Phone? (Take a Quiz to Find Out)- @Challies

I Want to Buy Your Cheapest Phone- @Challies

12 Steps to Living Smartphone Smart- @Tony Reinke at Lifeway

Don't Waste Your Mornings- @Thankful Homemaker

More Resources from Tony Reinke:

12 Tips for Parenting in the Digital Age- @Desiring God

Why We Should Escape Social Media (And Why We Don't)- @Desiring God

Know When to Walk Away (A Twelve-Step Digital Detox)- @Desiring God

Going Deep on Our Smartphone and Social Media Habits- @Desiring God

For the Full Show Notes and Resources visit ThankfulHomemaker.com

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Practical Steps to Overcome Self-Pity

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EP 46: Our Need for Contentment

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 03:00:00 -0500

The hope on today's episode of contentment is to remind us today how rich we are in Christ and that we will find our satisfaction in Him and Him alone.

I want to open with the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians:

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

~ Philippians 4:11-12

As I've been meditating on Philippians 4:11-12 on contentment I'm reminded that there isn't a program where we can automatically be contented people. No 5 Steps to Contentment or Learn to be Content Retreat Weekend. Contentment in our walk as believers is learned, just as Paul learned it, so do we as we walk this walk with the Lord. It does not come naturally to us. We know deep down the secret to contentment is to keep our eyes on the Lord in every situation. It's when we take our eyes off Him is when we fall into this sin.

“So what does contentment mean? It is an inner sense of rest or peace that comes from being right with God and knowing that He is in control of all that happens to us.”

~ Steven J. Cole

I've noticed there aren't many books on Christian contentment and a classic is one by Jeremiah Burroughs called The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. The title made me pause and think how well he defined contentment as a rarity even in our life as believers. It is a rarity, and usually, we walk in a spirit of discontentedness.

“Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.”

~ Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

Show Notes:

“We have here an account of Paul's learning, not that which he got at the feet of Gamaliel, but that which he got at the feet of Christ.” ~ Matthew Henry

“These are both hard lessons to learn; I do not know which is the more difficult of the two. Probably it is easier to know how to go down than to know how to go up. How many Christians have I seen grandly glorifying God in sickness and poverty when they have come down in the world; and ah! How often have I seen other Christians dishonoring God when they have grown rich, or when they have risen to a position of influence among their fellow-men! These two lessons grace alone can fully teach us.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

The excerpt below from Lydia Brownback's book, Contentment: A Godly Woman's Adornment:

“Contentment won't be found in changing the things we don't like about our lives, which is what the author of Hebrews is telling us.

In his words, we find why contentment is possible, even when we lack our heart's desires. We can be content with our lives exactly as they are today because God has promised he is always with us. Our problem really isn't that we need something we don't have; our problem is that we don't find God to be enough for us. Many of us can't even comprehend how God can meet us in our empty places and satisfy us fully. We are open to the idea, but we just don't see how it's possible.

Sometimes we get a wrong idea about how God satisfies us. He doesn't come to us on our terms, taking the role of a surrogate for the things or relationships we lack. He comes in place of those things, giving us something even better. The whole reason we can't resonate with the words of Hebrews 13:5 is that we are bound up in the things of this life and our desires for them. If we would just look away from those, we would find that God delights to fill up our empty places with joy, peace, guidance, love security and communion with him through his Spirit. Once we get a taste of that we find that it is no second-best consolation prize. We will find it to be better, richer, fuller than any earthy relationship or material blessing.

We can find this for ourselves by guarding against focusing overly much on what this world offers. We can–and should–certainly enjoy the material things God gives us, but only if we hold them loosely. It is the love of this world's blessings, the focus on getting them, that is the problem, not the blessings themselves.

We don't need anything more than what we have right now, today, in order to be content. The Bible says so; therefore it must be true. The choice is ours.”

Scripture & Resources:

Philippians 4:11-12

Philippians 4:13

1 Corinthians 15:10

Hebrews 13:5

Matthew 6:33

Learning Contentment

The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs

Contentment: A Godly Woman's Adornment by Lydia Brownback

A Surprising Ingredient in Christian Contentment- @Desiring God

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Praying God's Word Over Our Children

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EP 45: Our Best Parenting is Done by Prayer

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 03:00:00 -0500

God’s Word reminds us:

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

~ John 15:5

“apart from me you can do nothing” is a continual reminder that I am utterly dependent on the Lord to do anything. There are many things I can do without dependence on Christ, but the reality is I have achieved “nothing” in God’s sight.

This is so true in the raising of our children.

Our children are a gift from the Lord, a heritage, a reward (Psalm 127:3) and they are ever so precious to the Lord and us. Caring for our children is an immeasurable responsibility but one as believers we are not left alone in or to fend for ourselves. We can cry out to the One who created all things and is the only One who can redeem them.

I have learned over the years that I am helplessly dependent on the Lord. I can’t parent on my own. I can’t do anything on my own. As parents, we can’t change the hearts of our children. Only the Lord can change their hearts.

This truth should continually bring us to our knees in prayer, but many times we find ourselves thinking we can do this on our own. As a parent of now adult children, I can share that these are the more difficult years of life as the decisions and the difficulties they face are much more challenging than when they were young.

Show Notes:

“It didn’t take me long to realize that I did my best parenting by prayer. I began to speak less to the kids and more to God. It was actually quite relaxing.” ~ Paul Miller, A Praying Life

God does a much better job of being God than I do.

Children are fully dependent on parents for everything. As we get older, we become more and more independent. We need to be reminded to go back to living as dependent children. Living as a dependent child to the Lord in the everyday moments of life is the best example we can give to our children.

The prayer below is from Setting Their Hope In God: Biblical Intercession for Your Children page 193

“Eternal God,

Let my precious children rejoice in the Word, through whom all things were made. May they seek life only in Him.

Praise be to Your name for causing them to receive Him and believe on His name, for giving them the right to become Your children. Open their eyes to the glory of the Word, the glory of Your only Son, full of grace and truth. From His fullness let them receive grace upon grace–the grace and truth that come through Jesus Christ. Help them to do what is true and come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been carried out in You.

Help them not to judge by appearances, but instead to judge with right judgment. And when they thirst, let them go to Christ and drink. Let them follow closely after Him always, so that they will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Make them abide in His Word as true disciples so that they may know the truth and be set free by it (John 1 & 8).”

“I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” ~Martin Luther

“What makes a heart upright and what makes prayers pleasing to God is a felt awareness of our tremendous need for mercy.” ~John Piper

“Prayer is bringing your helplessness to Jesus.” ~ Paul E. Miller, A Praying Life

Scripture & Resources:

John 15:5

Philippians 4:6-7

Romans 8:28

John 5:19

John 5:30

Luke 5:16

Matthew 18:3

Mark 10:14-15

Luke 10:21

Podcast Ep 23: Seasons of Waiting

A Praying Life: Connecting With God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller

Setting Their Hope in God: Biblical Intercession for Your Children by Andrew Case

Praying the Bible by Donald S. Whitney

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EP 44: Dealing With Our Sins of Jealousy and Envy

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 03:00:00 -0500

Today's podcast episode is a topic we probably don’t find ourselves talking about with others because it can be a bit uncomfortable but it’s one I know we all deal with —it’s addressing our sins of jealousy and envy.

It just seems no matter where we are in life we can always find ourselves sinfully comparing ourselves to others. I would think at my age and life stage this would be over, but sadly it's not. How often do I find myself in my head comparing the circumstances of my life to others – too many!

Even though it may be just in my head, it's still a sin, and it may seem subtle, but it's not – all sin is an offense against God and one we must continue to do battle with.

When we find ourselves dealing with jealousy comparing ourselves to others or envious of others, it's like we're saying to God that we're not satisfied with what He's given us.

“If we are to successfully combat the temptations to envy and jealousy, we must mentally bring God into the picture. We must remind ourselves that He determines not only what abilities we have but also the degree of those abilities and the blessing He will bestow on their use.” ~ Jerry Bridges, Respectable Sins

Show Notes:

Jerry Bridges, in Respectable Sins, a book I most highly recommended you read, describes jealousy of “intolerance of rivalry.” He shares there are legitimate times to express jealousy, like when someone is trying to win your spouse away from you. Our God declares Himself to be a jealous God (Exodus 20:5). Our jealousy becomes sinful when we become afraid someone is going to be more successful or honored over us. King Saul's jealousy over David (Saul has struck down his thousands and David his ten thousand – 1 Samuel 18:7) is an example of Saul's jealousy over David because honor was given to David and not him. At that moment he saw him as a rival and jealousy took root.

Envy is defined by Jerry Bridges as:

“the painful and oftentimes resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by someone else. Sometimes we want that same advantage, leading to the further sin of covetousness. And sometimes we resent the other person having something we don't have. But we don't just envy people in general. Usually, there are two conditions that tempt us to envy. First, we tend to envy those with whom we most closely identify. Second, we tend to envy in them the areas we value most.”

Scriptures & Resources:

Exodus 20:5

1 Samuel 18:7

Romans 1:29-33

Galatians 5:19-21

Psalm 103:10

Philippians 4:12

Hebrews 13:5

Romans12:2

Romans 12:5

Romans 12:10

Philippians 4:11-12

Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges

Messy Beautiful Friendship: Finding and Nurturing Deep and Lasting Relationships by Christine Hoover

Visit ThankfulHomemaker.com for the complete show notes.

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EP 43 Hope for Imperfect Parents

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 03:00:00 -0500

How many imperfect parents out there? Raise your hands. I’m hoping all my parents out there raised their hands. We are going to experience failure in our parenting – it’s not an option but a reality in our lives on this fallen earth.

Don’t we all find ourselves at times sure that we’ve ruined our children? How many times have we yelled, acted rashly in our correction and the list of mistakes and sinful responses towards them we’ve made over the years sadly goes on.

We’re going to fail – and in saying that it doesn’t mean our failure shouldn’t affect us. I know we all are saddened by the times we’ve caused hurt in any way to our children, and this isn’t a podcast to just give us a pass to the failures we’ve caused our children.

We need to seek the forgiveness of our children, repent to the Lord of wrongs we’ve caused to them and to the best of our ability and by the grace of God avoid hurting them in the future when possible.

We must remember always that we are sinners’ parenting sinners. Sin affects every one of our relationships.

Romans 7:18-19 is true in my role as a parent just as it’s true in my relationship with all others on this earth.

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

We are not perfect—we already know this.

Remember that it is God’s grace that transforms our lives and the lives of our children – it’s not our perfect or more likely imperfect parenting. He is the only One that has the power to transform their hearts and minds. This doesn’t mean we don’t strive to set a pattern and routine for our homes that directs the hearts of our children towards Him. It is our duty as parents to train up our children in His ways but we can’t trust that our parenting is going to save them.

Scripture & Resources:

Romans 7:18-19

Ephesians 6:1-4

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Matthew 19:25-26

John 6:37

1 Corinthians 15:10

Romans 3:23

Psalm 119:11

Matthew 18:22

2 Corinthians 12:9

Parents, Require Obedience of Your Children

God's Blessing Does Not Depend on Our Performance

Podcast Ep 20: The Blessings of Loving Our Children

Podcast Ep 18: Putting on an Attitude of Love in Our Homes

Parenting: 14 Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul Tripp

Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus by Elyse Fitzpatrick

Free eBook - Motherhood Delighting in Our Children by Marci Ferrell

Find all podcast episodes with show notes here

Visit Thankful Homemaker on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest

The rest of the show notes are at ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 42 Some Titus 2 Encouragement Along the Way

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 03:00:00 -0500

As we start getting back into fall and a routine (as we talked about last week at the podcast), I wanted to share a bit of encouragement for all of us today. Who doesn't like to be encouraged?

Our time today is just a reminder that no one out there has it all together. We are a continual work in progress in the Lord's hand. If I shared only what I had mastered on this podcast, it would be non-existent ;).

So today listen in and be reminded that no one has a perfect marriage, family or home while living on this fallen earth but that doesn't mean we just throw in the towel and stop trying. I'm reminded and reminding us today of God's Word to persevere and work heartily as unto the Lord, and this includes my normal day to day life of caring for a home and family.

In the spirit of Titus 2, I want to be an encouragement in the areas of loving our husbands and children, being keepers of our homes, being self-controlled and submissive to our husbands so God's Word will not be reviled.

We need to share our struggles but not leave each other there. But we need to spur one another on to love and good deeds. My hope always is to point one another back to Christ and to live by and abide in His Word.

My greatest comfort in this world is that Jesus Christ is enough. He is enough on the days when everything goes wrong and on the days when it seems that everything is falling apart.

Come listen in with us today.

For the full show notes head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

Follow Thankful Homemaker on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest

Subscribe to the Podcast

Scripture & Resources:

2 Timothy 3:16-17

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Homemaking 101 Series: Getting Dressed

Are You Kind to Your Husband?

What's for Dinner?

Weekly Home Blessing

18 Ways to Be Your Husband's Helper

Busyness is Not Godliness

Podcast Ep 32: Preparing Our Families for Sunday Morning Worship

Battling Our Sins of Envy & Jealousy

Podcast Ep 28: Dealing with Our Anxiousness and Worry (Matthew 6:25-34)

How to Resist Gossip

Homemaking Ministries Online Conference - The Deep Dive Summit

Homemaking 101 Series: The Routines of the Day

EP 41 Getting Back Into a Routine After Summer

Wed, 12 Sep 2018 03:00:00 -0500

Are you struggling with getting back into a routine after the summer months? I know for us our summer months are a bit more spontaneous and flexible so I'm out of a daily routine quite often.

Summer brings a sense of unpredictable days in our home. We don’t always have a regular schedule, and we’re on the go or outside more than usual so we may find our inside tasks take a back seat and our regular routine schedule doesn’t happen as often as it does in the fall, winter and even spring seasons.

For me, I’m not sure why this is because I’m not even dealing with kids in school anymore but it just seems to be a rhythm in my life too in this season.

I love to be open to spontaneous adventures and not get caught up in what needs to be done at home because I’ve learned over the years - the reality is – it always gets done.

I do still get things accomplished in the summer, and my home is still running pretty smooth – it’s not a total disaster, but I have to share – I honestly miss the regular routines I’m used to. I am a creature of habit. I don’t find myself deep cleaning or de-cluttering or overly organizing anything. For some reason, I tend to drift towards those chores in the fall and winter months.

So listen in as we talk about what it looks like on getting back into a routine after summer.

Show Notes: Planners Mentioned:

Brilliant Life Planner

iBloom Planner

Living Well Planner

Articles & Podcasts Mentioned:

The Joy of a Morning Routine

The Peacefulness of an Evening Routine

Podcast Ep 21: The Routines of the Day - Making the Most of Your Morning and Evenings

Menu Planning 101

Podcast Ep 12: Simple Menu Planning Tips

Homemaking 101: My Daily, Weekly, Monthly Tasks

Podcast Ep 16: Simplify Your Housekeeping with a Cleaning Schedule for Your Home

Podcast Ep 27: Planning Our Days as Homemakers

How I Plan my Days

Bringing Order to Our Homes

Podcast Ep. 14: Simple Tips for a Clutter-Free Home

Podcast Ep. 29: Where to Begin When You're Overwhelmed in Caring for Your Home

Grab your Free Weekly Menu Planning PDF

Find the show notes and resources mentioned at ThankfulHomemaker.com

Follow Thankful Homemaker on:

Thankful Homemaker on Instagram

EP 40: Marriage Series #7 - Sexual Intimacy in Our Marriages

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 03:00:00 -0500

Sex is a beautiful gift from God. As Christian’s we have God’s permission to enjoy sex within our marriages – God invented it. We can learn not just to enjoy it but delight in intimacy with our husbands

Martha Peace shares:

The physical union of husband and wife is designed by God to meet God-given desire for companionship, to protect the husband and wife from temptation, and for the mutual giving and receiving of great pleasure and joy between the husband and wife. Companionship is strengthened by the private, intimate, physical bond of a married couple.

Even as Christians we can too easily let the world or other voices in the church give us our view of sex when it has to come from God’s Word. God’s Word is sufficient in all ways and especially and even in our sexual relationship with our husband.

Resources:

Homemaking Ministries 2018 Online Conference - The Deep Dive Summit

Marriage Series at the Blog

My Favorite Resources on Sex and Sexual Intimacy in Marriage

The Excellent Wife: A Biblical Perspective by Martha Peace

Intended for Pleasure: Sex Technique and Sexual Fulfillment in Christian Marriage by Ed Wheat

Intimate Issues: 21 Questions Christian Women Ask About Sex by Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus

When Sinners Say I Do by Dave Harvey

Rekindling the Romance: Loving the Love of Your Life by Dennis & Barbara Rainey

A Celebration of Sex: A Guide to Enjoying God's Gift of Sexual Intimacy by Dr. Doug Rosenau

Strengthening Your Marriage by Wayne Mack

The Intimate Marriage: A Practical Guide to Building a Great Marriage by R. C. Sproul

My Abortion story & Why I Counsel at Abortuariesat Thankful Homemaker

The Devilish Puppet Master of the Word-Faith Movementsermon at Grace to You on False Prophets

Weekend to Remember from Family Life Today

Podcast Ep. 35: Marriage Series #2 - To Love Their Husbands at Thankful Homemaker

Podcast Ep. 17: What it Looks Like to Cherish Our Husbands at Thankful Homemaker

Follow Thankful Homemaker at:

Subscribe to the blog to never miss a post here.

Twitter

For all the show notes, quotes and resources head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 39: Marriage Series #6 - How To Communicate with Your Spouse

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 03:00:00 -0500

We're going to discuss in today's podcast about how well we communicate with our spouses. God created us as relational beings so we are designed to communicate not just with Him but with one another. Because we're created in God's image, our communication within our marriages should be one of intimacy, beauty, and harmony.

Communication is a huge part of our lives together. We share all of life together in our marriages and home should be a place where we can be vulnerable, open and honest with one another regarding all areas of our lives.

We're going to break the show today down into three areas: Listening well, our day-to-day communication and dealing in a God-honoring way with conflict.

Because of Jesus, we can have homes where we communicate with grace and peace. Our tongues can be tamed by the gospel – Jesus came to set us free. We are new creatures in Christ.

For the show notes and resources mentioned head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 38: Marriage Series #5 - What Does Submission in Marriage Look Like?

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 04:00:00 -0500

We are continuing in our marriage series on the podcast, and this is the second half of the episode on submission. If you didn't get a chance to listen to the first one where my husband joined us you can do that here. I highly recommend it before listening in to this one.

My husband shared last week on the theology of submission, and I'm continuing on today on what submission in marriage is and what it isn't.

When we are living out the beautiful doctrine of submission the unbelieving world around us will take notice. They will see wives respecting and loving their husbands. Peace and joy in our homes. Wives who talk about their husbands with honor and respect. Wives who look to their husbands for guidance and leadership and are true helpers that come alongside them in the advancement of God’s Kingdom. They will see marriages filled with genuine love and affection.

My hope today in our time together is to give you the practical application in our everyday lives of what submission in marriage looks like and what it doesn’t look like. Please know that when I am sharing with you, it does not mean I have this area of my life mastered. I am still a learner, and God continues to teach me much. Let’s pray that with the Lord’s help we can all be more obedient to God’s ways and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior.

For the show notes and resources mentioned head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 37: Marriage Series #4 - What is Biblical Submission? (with guest Doug Ferrell)

Wed, 08 Aug 2018 04:00:00 -0500

We're continuing on in our marriage series and podcast episode 37 is part one of a two-part episode in the series on submission. I'm a bit excited to have my husband joining us today and he's going to work through with us what is the theology of submission. You can find all the podcast episodes in the marriage series here.

We're camping in the text of Ephesians 5:22-24:

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

That’s the Christian wedding text that everybody wants their pastor to use for the ceremony but after the wedding cake, it becomes a real struggle in its application! It is a text often quoted, usually misunderstood and misapplied and creates a lot of unnecessary tension in a marriage. And that is why it is critical for us as married couples who are followers of Jesus, His disciples, to grasp this properly and obey its teachings. And so what we should attempt to accomplish in our short time together is the theology embedded in this principle of submission; that is, what does God mean in His command for wives to submit to their husbands?

For the show notes and scriptures mentioned head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 36: Marriage Series #3 - Showing Respect to Our Husbands

Tue, 31 Jul 2018 04:00:00 -0500

We’re continuing in our series on marriage at the podcast, and episode 36 is on respect. So far we've covered God's Design for Marriage and Our Role as Women, Loving Our Husbands, and today we're talking about what does it look like to show respect to our husbands.

What is respect? How is it defined? The dictionary defines it - A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

We are called by God to respect our husband’s position of headship in the home, and as we do this, we are honoring God first and foremost. God has called them to this position, and He has called us to respect their position.

God has called our husbands, just like us, to be like Christ. One way we do this is by submitting our will and humbling ourselves before the Lord and taking the place of a servant in our homes. Christ is our ultimate example of a loving, respectful servant.

This is only going to come about when we get a right view of who God. God is worthy of my trust and loyalty and respect and submission (please take a listen to Podcast Ep 31 on The Supremacy of God). This is part of His plan. The apostle Paul started out the verses here in Ephesians 5:22-33 with love and submission and he ends them here in Ephesians 5:33 with love and respect.

For the rest of the show notes and resources mentioned visit ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 35: Marriage Series #2 - To Love Their Husbands

Wed, 25 Jul 2018 04:00:00 -0500

We’re continuing in a series here at the podcast on marriage. Each episode can stand alone, but they are meant to be listened to together. Last week we talked about God’s Design for Marriage and Our Role as Women. We touched briefly on areas of submission, respect, and love. Today we’re going to start by seeing what God’s Word has to say about loving our husbands.

I struggled with titling the episode, so I borrowed it from scripture from Titus 2:4 passage that we are to be taught by the older women “to love their husbands.”

Before we dig into that passage, I want to work through with you on what is love? Love is a necessary factor in our marriages. If we don’t have love for one another there’s going to be a lot of issues in our marriage. Without love in our marriages they’re going to be difficult to endure, any problems in the marriage will be difficult to overcome, as time goes on when we live in a relationship where there is no love the relationship is going to begin to fall apart. We’re not going to like each other very much or have any desire to be near one another, and it is just a dangerous place to be.

God’s Word is clear on the importance of love in all our relationships and especially in our marriages.

In a most familiar passage - Matthew 22:37-40 states:

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

We stated last week that our husbands are our closest neighbors. When love is talked about, do we understand what it truly is or what it means when God commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves?

We married our spouse because we loved them. Now that we’ve been married a bit we can find ourselves acting very unloving at times or maybe a lot of times and wondering what happened? We can’t exhaustively cover today what real love is, but I do desire to work through on what God’s Word says because He’s given us a clear idea of what real love is in His Word.

For the show notes and resources mentioned head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 34: Marriage Series #1 - God's Design for Marriages and Our Role as Women

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 04:00:00 -0500

I am so grateful to be back at the podcast and excited about this upcoming series on marriage. I've enjoyed my study time for this series and this first one is foundational because it lays out from God's Word His design for marriage and what our role is He has called us to as women.

As we dig in together today if you can sit with a Bible handy that would be a help as we're covering a lot of verses. They are all listed below so you can go back and refer to them later. Genesis 2:18-25 is my main text in understanding God's design for marriage.

My husband is going to join in on the podcasts on submission and I'm looking forward to working together with him on this series. We've been married over 32 years and consider ourselves continual learners in our walk with the Lord and in our marriage. The Lord has grown us in our love for Him and in that, in our love for one another. I have said it before but my Doug makes me want to be more like Jesus.

For the complete show notes and resources mentioned head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

Future Podcasts in this Series: (not official titles yet but it gives you the topics at least)

Loving our Husbands

Respecting Our Husbands

Submission (two-part series)

Communication

Intimacy

Resources:

Homemaking Ministries Conference - Deep Dive Summit

The Creation of Woman- John MacArthur Sermon

The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace

God of Creation by Jen Wilkin

Strengthening Your Marriage by Wayne Mack

ESV Study Bible

John MacArthur Study Bible

Podcast Ep 17: Cherishing Our Husbands

Podcast: Loving Our Husbands- Women's Hope Podcast

Who Am I by Jerry Bridges

Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney

Love Has a Price Tag by Elisabeth Elliot

A Picture-Perfect Marriage- Tim Challies

For the complete show notes and resources mentioned head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 33: Is Your Smartphone Changing You? (Hiatus Update)

Wed, 30 May 2018 01:46:44 -0500

On today’s episode, we’re going to talk about our cell phone use and discuss whether we master our cell phones or do they master us. This podcast was on my mind because of two recent posts at Tim Challies blog on the use of our phones. I recently read the book, 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Tony Reinke and it was a challenging read.

Also, I have an announcement that I’ll be taking a short hiatus from the podcast but will be back with the regular weekly podcast sometime in early July.I’m working on content currently for the next Homemaking Ministries Conference coming up this fall – it’s my favorite online conference, and I hope you’ll join us again if you have in the past and if you haven’t yet I hope you will. There will be more details to come on it this summer.

You can find the show notes and resources mentioned at ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 32: Preparing Our Families for Sunday Morning Worship

Wed, 23 May 2018 04:00:00 -0500

How many times does Sunday morning roll around and you find your heart in a state of chaos instead of calm to worship the Lord? How many Sunday’s do you arrive at church and realize you haven’t taken the time all week to pray for your pastor or your church family? I want to share with you some simple steps we can take to prepare our hearts and the hearts of our families for Sunday morning worship to the Lord.

The hope today is to get you to understand the purpose and the mission of the local church and then to move on toward how we can proceed with some simple steps to prepare our hearts and the hearts of our families for Sunday morning worship to the Lord.

For the show notes and resources mentioned head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 31: The Supremacy of God

Wed, 16 May 2018 04:00:00 -0500

On today’s episode, I’m sharing with you a message that I shared at our church's recent women’s retreat. Our time together at the retreat was spent learning about the attributes of God. I started the weekend off sharing about the Supremacy, Eternality, Self-Sufficiency, and Self-Existence of our most awesome God and I wanted to share what I learned with you all here today.

It has been said that what comes into a person’s mind when he or she thinks about God is the most important thing about him or her.

When we have a high view of God, it will lead to holy living, worship, evangelism, and service. I hope to spark within you today a heart’s desire to study more about this wonderful God we love and are known by.

When we gain a better understanding of Who God is, we will be better equipped in our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Every area of our life and worldview is influenced by who we understand God to be.

When we speak of God's attributes, we are talking about those characteristics that help us to understand who He truly is.

We will never be able to fully grasp the depth of God’s character, but I hope we can get a bit more of a glimpse in our short time together today.

For the show notes and resources mentioned head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 30: Cultivating Self-Control in Our Lives

Wed, 09 May 2018 04:00:00 -0500

The need for self-control is clear in God’s Word. There is much said about it. We live in a world where we are tempted daily to overindulge and live outside our boundaries. We live in a world that is dominated by “self” – Self-centeredness, self-pity, selfishness, self-deception.

Wayne Barber shared: What’s the middle letter of the word sin? What’s the middle letter? What’s the middle letter of the word pride? Now, you take those two things out—which by the way, the cross does—then you don’t even have a word. When you say yes to Him, you’ve just crucified the “I,” the flesh.

Proverbs 25:28 says, "like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit." This proverb gives us a picture of a city with its walls broken down and is utterly defenseless as a picture of what happens when our wall of defense. Our self-control is gone, and we’re not able to battle the sinful desires that wage war against our soul.

Self-control means to master our emotions instead of being mastered by them. It is the ability to control oneself and in particular our emotions and desires or the expression of them in our behavior – especially in difficult situations.

For the show notes and resources mentioned in the podcast head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 29: Where to Begin When You're Overwhelmed in Caring for Your Home

Wed, 02 May 2018 04:00:00 -0500

I’m sharing today from a post I wrote quite awhile back called Where to Begin When You're Overwhelmed, and it was dealing with our home keeping. It’s been a very controversial post and people either have a love or hate relationship with it. I’m hoping you all are in the love camp today because I’m not a fan of being in the hate camp.

Before we begin, I want to lay out a statement here that I want you to remember as we walk through this. What I’m sharing is going to look different in every home. I don’t know all the battles or circumstances in your home from health and illness difficulties or various trials you’re dealing with. This may not be the season of your life for you to listen to a podcast on this topic right now.

I’m never talking about perfection or Stepford wives or making an idol out of your homekeeping or whatever your thinking because as soon as you write a post or share a podcast about this topic of homekeeping that’s where the conversation tends to go.

This isn’t about having a Martha Stewart lifestyle in your homemaking. It is about the heart of a homemaker who loves the Lord and desires to love and care for her family well because of the God she serves.It is out of a heart of love and thankfulness because she has been redeemed. Thank you, Jesus!

This also does not mean you don’t do anything outside your home or saying you can’t work outside the home or have any employment. I work for my husband’s business and have ever since my kiddos were young. In my past - I’ve worked outside the home and inside the home and still work inside the home as a homemaker and for my husband’s business. This is not a SAHM vs. working mom podcast. This is for all Christian women in whatever season of life you’re in.

I want to chat with you today as if I’m talking with my daughter – (Hello My Amberif you’re listening) and encouraging her in the role the Lord has called her to as laid out in Titus 2:3-5

3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Getting some foundational understanding of why we are called keepers of our homes will be an encouragement in itself not to be overwhelmed in your homekeeping, but I hope to set your mind on things of the Lord and His ways today.

For the show notes and resources mentioned please head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 28: Dealing with Our Anxiousness and Worry

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 04:00:00 -0500

We are discussing on today's podcast what God’s Word has to say about our anxiousness and worry.

We’ve been working through the book of Matthew at church and have been in the Sermon on the Mount for quite a few months now.

I’ve been utilizing D. Martin Lloyd Jones sermon series to read along with the scriptures as I prepare for Sunday mornings. It’s a great resource, and it’s called Studies in the Sermon on the Mount.

One thing Pastor Ross shared about this text (Matthew 6:25-34) and what I want to begin with is an area that convicted me. When I am worried about a situation – I’m creating an idol. Worry reveals the idols of my heart, something I treasure more than Christ.

My worry usually isn’t about physical things. It can be at times, but my worry and anxious thoughts usually come about with situations in my life that I have no control over. I tend to worry about the outcomes that I have no control over, pretty pointless.

At that moment I forget Who is in control and my thoughts are self-centered and I believe at that moment that I know better than God. Ugh – that’s sin and my worry surely isn’t helping God in any way. At that moment – how Pastor Ross put it – I have forgotten that God is ruler – not me.

The passage in (Matthew 6:25-34) reminds me what Jesus says to worriers like myself. As we walk through this passage today my prayer is that the Lord would speak to my heart and yours and the hope is we will both be reminded that the Lord knows what we need and has already provided for it.

For the show notes and resources listed head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

EP 27: Planning Our Days as Homemakers

Wed, 18 Apr 2018 04:00:00 -0500

I have always been a planner oriented person. I love notebooks and pens and making lists. I love seeing items I have to-do written down. Planning has been a help to me in caring well for my home and family. It helps me to keep order and meet the needs of my family and others while still getting time to do some of the things I love to do too (like write on this blog here).

I'd like to walk through with you today how I use my planner to plan my days. It isn't meant to be copied buy to spark ideas on ways you can plan your days working with the way God has wired you.

The days and weeks I take the time to plan well are the ones that are my most productive and efficient. I hope you'll be encouraged today to grab a few nuggets that may work for you and your life.

For the Show Notes & Resources mentioned head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

To get a copy, while supplies last of The Homemaker's Friend Daily Planner at half-price ($7.50) you can do that here.

Ep. 26: When the Days are Difficult and Exhausting

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 04:00:00 -0500

When our families go through battles with illness we know, as the mom, there seem to be no sick days for us. We may have quieter and relaxing days as we battle through the illness, but the needs of the home seem to await us until we are feeling better.

Times of difficult trials can also place stress on our homes. How can we keep the peace of our homes when we do not at the moment see closure to the situation the Lord is bringing us through?

Are you a tired mom out there who feels like everything you work so hard to get done seems to get almost immediately undone? I remember those days with toddlers in the house.

Communicating clearly and patiently and pointing our children to Christ in our conversations with them is hard.

Nurturing the hearts of our children is hard work. Day in and day out the workday of a mom can be physically but sometimes even more so emotionally exhausting.

There is one comfort I can always bring us back to: I can assure you there is One who knows what it is like to be exhausted.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

~ Hebrews 4:15

The hope today is to encourage you in these challenging times, give some practical help and point you back to God's Word. So listen in with me today.

For the Show Notes and Resources mentioned head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

Ep. 25: The Family Dinner Table

Wed, 04 Apr 2018 04:00:00 -0500

How would you like to build relationships with your family, teach good conversation skills, work on proper table manners, eat healthier and laugh and enjoy each other’s company as a family? The solution is simple. Take the time to make the most of your family dinners.

Do you think of your family table as a place of discipleship? Our family tables are a place where we can offer Christ to others. Our hope is that our children and others would leave with more than just full bellies but with the truth of Jesus who wants to feed their souls. Does it sound a bit overwhelming? It doesn’t have to be, and I’m sharing some simple tips today that I hope will be an encouragement to you.

For the show notes and resources mentioned head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

Ep. 24: Dealing with Our Grumbling and Complaining

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 04:00:00 -0500

We’re talking about a topic that I pretty confidently say effects all of us. It’s our grumbling and complaining. My hope today is that the Lord would fill us with joy no matter our circumstances and we would rejoice always and give thanks in all things.

As believers we can do this and how do I know this - because as it says in Philippians 2:13 – it is God who is at work in you.

So let’s dig in, and I pray that as we start our time together today, you will pray for the Lord to give you a thankful heart.

Why does it seem grumbling and complaining is so tolerated within our Christianity? Sometimes I think we tolerate it because we don’t always think of it as sin since it is so commonly practiced among us.

We grumble about the weather, our government, our churches, our circumstances and so many other things that truly are trivial in light of eternity.

For the show notes and resources mentioned head to thankfulhomemaker.com and click on the podcast show notes menu tab.

Ep. 23: Seasons of Waiting

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 04:00:00 -0500

As I’m sharing this episode I’m finding myself in a waiting room on the Lord, and it’s been a long one, and I don’t see an end near. It has reminded me that when I gave myself to Him, I gave up my “right” to be in charge. The reality is we never were in charge anyway; we just came to that understanding when the Lord opened our eyes to His sovereign control over our lives.

Even though it is a truth I know or we know, how many times do we want to think that somehow we can effect change in our life situations?

Waiting is hard because there is no guarantee that my waiting will end in this lifetime. One thing I have learned - my waiting has deepened my trust in the Lord and has helped me to develop patience, perseverance, and endurance.

It’s also given me different eyes to see with compassion others who are in a season of waiting.

For the show notes and resources mentioned head to ThankfulHomemaker.com

Ep. 22: Celebrating a Christ-Centered Easter

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 05:00:00 -0500

On today’s podcast episode, we’re going to talk together about how to have a Christ-centered Easter celebration. We’re going to talk a bit about the importance of the resurrection, walk through the gospel, and share some ideas to help us point our family to the risen Jesus and His gift of salvation.

We know this time of year the stores are filled with Easter baskets, chocolates, and egg coloring kits but as Christian’s our celebration of Easter focuses on the truth that we serve a risen Lord. Our God is alive, and that truth is where our hope lies. He is Risen! Jesus is Alive!

As a mom and now grandmother I desire our celebration of Easter or as many of us call it The Celebration of the Resurrection, to be Christ-focused. I’m not elaborate in our celebrations, but I desire to be intentional. I want to share more than just our traditional meal together; I want to point my family to the gift of Jesus.

Please visit ThankfulHomemaker.com for the show notes and resources listed in the podcast.

Ep. 21: The Routines of the Day: Making the Most of Your Morning and Evening Routines

Wed, 07 Mar 2018 05:00:00 -0500

I find comfort in the routines of the day. We all have areas of our lives that need to be taken care of on a daily basis. Having routines set in your day can make the whole day run smoothly, and those routines tend to become habits over time. I am such an advocate of having a morning and evening routine because they have helped to simplify and make my days run smoothly for over 25 years now.

Starting your day with focus and structure does help you to maintain some order and not have a day of complete chaos. Even if the rest of the day turns to chaos, you have already accomplished a lot in that first hour or two of the morning.

Whether you're a morning person, not a morning person a mother with littles or someone who already has some solid routines in place, I hope to have some encouragement for you all today.

For the show notes and resources mentioned in the podcast head to ThankfulHomemaker.com and click on the Podcast Show Notes tab in the menu bar.

Ep. 20: The Blessings of Loving Our Children

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 04:00:00 -0500

There is a favorite book I turn to often to look for encouragement in my role as a wife and mother. God’s Word is always my first destination but a book that I came across several years ago is Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney. Carolyn is looking at our role as Titus 2 women and what the scripture teaches by taking apart that verse a section at a time. Chapter three is an excellent guide to show us what God’s Word says about loving our children.

The chapter starts off by reminding us as mom’s how good we are at self-sacrificing love. It is a rare experience to meet a woman who doesn’t sacrifice for her children and daily lay down her life to serve them. We are good at that kind of love.

I have two adult children and three grandbabies. I can tell you I fiercely love all my babies – my now grown children and those little grandbabies. This mama would do anything for them and be there in a heartbeat.

Whether we have our own children or spiritual children we have a high calling to love these children and point them to Christ. This high calling of motherhood is truly an honor, and I hope that today I can with the Lord’s help, to help us to grasp this. I’ve talked much about cleaning and homekeeping and scheduling over the years but the moments we get with our children are hopefully pointing them to the reality that life is bigger than cleaning and cooking and that our example would be one of the sacrificial love of Jesus and of laying down your life for another. You are a disciple mama, and you are to be making disciples in your home.

It is a tiring job at times and can seem overwhelming many days, but I hope that you will be reminded today in our time that you can’t do anything without the strength of Christ. In Christ Mama, we can do all things with great joy. So let’s look together at the blessings of loving our children:

For the show notes, links and resources mentioned head to ThankfulHomemaker.com. To get your free copy of my eBook - Motherhood: Delighting in Our Children click here.

Ep. 19: Benefits of Habits in Our Homemaking

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 05:00:00 -0500

We all have habits we already do on a day to day basis. Habits are things that just happen without us thinking about them anymore. We brush our teeth, make our beds, maybe we exercise regularly, eat meals, or wake up and have a cup of coffee. We do these things now without thinking – it’s so good to have things we do without thinking! But a habit isn’t just a by-product of repetition. We can also develop and form new habits.

I can’t determine what habits you would like to develop in your homemaking, but I can encourage you to ponder and start small by doing just one. Maybe you don’t clean the dishes up after dinner immediately and leave them until morning. Would you like to change that habit and do clean up the night before?

When we have built good habits into our homekeeping they can become time savers for us and create more freedom into our days. Visit ThankfulHomemaker.com for the show notes and links from this episode.

Ep. 18: Putting on an Attitude of Love in Our Homes

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 05:00:00 -0500

We're working through Ephesians 4:22-24 together today: Ephesians 4:22-24:

We have a new nature when we receive Christ and are born again – we become a totally different individual – we’re now a citizen of heaven

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation the old has gone the new has come.

~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

As believers, we now have a new nature. Our behavior is now able to match our new nature because Christ is in us. We are risen with Christ, and we should now behave in accordance with who we are.

For show notes and links mentioned, please head to www.thankfulhomemaker.com and click on the podcast tab in the menu bar.

EP 17: Cherishing Your Husband

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 05:00:00 -0500

I’m sharing a message with you today that I gave at a sweet friend’s bridal shower. I had the privilege of watching this young woman as a teenager grow into a lovely, godly woman who as I’m now recording this just got married this weekend. I’m excited for the next season the Lord has for her, but I’m also excited for the season the Lord has us all in right now.

I had such a problem titling this message, and I think you'll understand why when you listen in. The podcast today isn’t just for married women or soon to be married women, but I believe there will be much for all women. We’re going to be talking about our identity in Christ and what it looks like to love one another. I’m focusing on cherishing our husbands, but I think you will see much of this will pertain to all of us in our relationships with each other inside and outside the church too.

You can find the show notes at www.thankfulhomemaker.com

Ep. 16: Simplify Your Homekeeping with a Cleaning Schedule

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 05:00:00 -0500

One of the most fundamental ways to manage our homes well is to take the time to plan. Planning is merely deciding in advance the what, why and how things will be done even cleaning. Ladies the time it takes to put together a plan for the care and upkeep of your home is well worth your time and energy. You know the saying that sorta goes like this - “Many women plan to fail because they fail to plan.”

On the other side of that, we can do so much planning and never get to the action part. I love to sit and plan – cleaning would not be my favorite – I say that but it really is getting started, and once I get moving on it I enjoy it because of the instant results you see from it.

I want to remind you here this is a method or methods – I’m sharing three that I use at various times and seasons in my life - that work well for me and my personality. I’m not a naturally organized person and actually can be quite messy. My friends would not say this about me because when they come over, they see a neat and tidy home. I have to work hard to go against the bent of my natural personality in this area. I have trained myself to become a tidy home keeper – not perfect but neat and orderly. I still have my certain drawers and areas that I need to continue to declutter and organize, but overall I have worked to make my home easy to clean and keep orderly.

I desire my home to be a haven for my family. I also don’t want to spend all my time and energy just cleaning my house. I desire to give my family and other relationships my time, so I’ve learned to manage my home well, so it doesn’t control me and take up all my time. I also appreciate having a house ready to offer hospitality and fellowship to others at a moment’s notice.

My point I’m trying to make here is that my cleaning method or methods may not work for you, but I want you as you listen to me today ponder what type of cleaning schedule – if you don’t have one already- would help you to care and manage your home.

Visit www.thankfulhomemaker.com for the Show Notes.

Ep. 15: Prioritizing God's Word When Life is Busy

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 05:00:00 -0500

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ not one of us would desire to remain a babe in the faith. We all desire to grow more in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual growth doesn’t happen by osmosis – you have to be disciplined in putting God’s truth in your mind. Spending time with the Lord in His Word will transform our hearts and compel us to obey God’s Word.

As we grow in our understanding of God’s Word we will develop convictions that will determine how we will live or how we hope to live. God’s Word helps us to develop principles that we desire to live our lives by – this is the process of sanctification.

“Sanctification is a process – the process of becoming more like Christ, of growing in holiness. This process begins the instant you are converted and will not end until you meet Jesus face-to-face. Sanctification is about our own choices and behavior. It involves work. Empowered by God’s Spirit, we strive. We fight sin. We study Scripture and pray, even when we don’t feel like it. We flee temptation. We press on; we run hard in the pursuit of holiness. And as we become more and more sanctified, the power of the gospel conforms us more and more closely, with ever-increasing clarity, to the image of Jesus Christ.”
~C.J. Mahaney

Growing spiritually is the most important step in our role as Christian wives and mothers. I do not have true wisdom to offer my family because true wisdom comes from the Lord and knowledge of Him.

I know what you’re going to say – I barely have time to breath how am I going to fit in time with the Lord.

Stick with me here today because I’m hoping I have some tips that will motivate you or at least seem doable that you can work into your current season of life.

Find the show notes and more information at the blog - www.thankfulhomemaker.com

Ep. 14: Simple Tips for a Clutter Free Home

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 05:00:00 -0500

We all have this vision of working in this perfectly organized home where there is a place for everything, and everything is in its place. We picture saving time and money and less stress in this place, but many times that’s as far as we get. It’s just a vision, and we never get there. I hope today we can see that it isn’t just a dream, but we can get there. There are many ways to declutter, and I’m going to share some methods that have worked for me and I hope will inspire you today to start working away at your clutter piece by piece with me.

I love to work in an orderly workspace. I love order and beauty in my home. Studies have proven that people think clearer and better in uncluttered environments.

Clutter is a real enemy. Clutter can keep us from enjoying our families and homes as it takes up our time, can rob us of our joy, can add stress to our lives and takes up our living space.

I was going to initially share a podcast this week on cleaning schedules (that’s a future one coming soon), but as I started writing it, I realized this is an area that needs to be dealt with before we can start cleaning.

Remember we can’t clean clutter.

You can find the show notes at www.thankfulhomemaker.com

Ep. 13: Choosing Forgiveness

Wed, 10 Jan 2018 05:00:00 -0500

As I’m sharing this with you today, I don’t know what you my listeners are coming to this podcast with. I don’t know the hurts in your lives. Hurtful words, betrayal from a friend, disappointments, and even much darker areas of abuse to unspeakable offenses that many of us could not even fathom.

Many times we can just go on trying to live in a state of normalcy all the while these past hurts are building resentment and bitterness in our hearts. Our God does not want us to be stuck there. In Christ, we have the freedom to be set free.

Forgiveness is a choice. It is not a denial that whatever hurt has been done against you isn’t real, but it does mean you need to face it and be reminded that not forgiving that sin against you is a sin in itself.

For the links and show notes visit www.thankfulhomemaker.com

Ep. 12: Simple Menu Planning Tips

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 05:00:00 -0500

Who doesn’t want to save money, time, their sanity, reduce stress, eat healthy and avoid the dreaded question "What’s for dinner?" It sounds great right, and we’d all love to do it but how do we get there?

Menu planning is the answer to all those questions above. We have a jam-packed episode today filled with tons of tips, examples, and ideas so stick with me, and I know there will be something that will appeal to each of you in some way. I hope to get you in the habit of menu planning if you’re not already and if you already are but find yourself in a rut, then I hope this episode will give you some encouragement to keep going. If you’re already a die-hard habitual menu planner, maybe you’ll gain some new ideas to jazz up your weekly menu plan.

Come check out the show notes and all the links mentioned in the podcast at www.ThankfulHomemaker.com

Ep. 11: Serving with a Mary Heart in a Martha Season

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 05:00:00 -0500

You can read the full podcast here, but my hope is you will sit with me for just a few minutes of your day and listen in to the podcast and let me pour into you a bit.

Thank you for spending your time with me today - I am blessed by each one of you. Thank you for your prayers, for your sweet notes of encouragement to me and for supporting this little ministry here at Thankful Homemaker by listening in to this podcast. I’ll be taking a break for the next week to enjoy family time. I will see you all next year back here at the blog and podcast.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year my dear friends.

Find the full show notes for this episode at ThankfulHomemaker.com

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