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You know those times in your life when God just really convicts you and shows you some things that He wants you to change?
"Then they can urge the younger women to
love their husbands and children,
to be self-controlled
and pure,
to be busy at home,
to be kind,
and to be subject to their husbands,
so that no one will malign the word of God."
Titus 2:4-5
The Lord just really amazed me with this verse within the last few weeks. Yes, I had read it before but you know that 21st time time you read something and it just seems as though the Lord put it there just for you?
Well, I really starting thinking about being busy at home. And the Lord began to convict me about some things. Things like how I manage my time, moving to a more natural way of living, making my home a haven etc.
Because of these things I have been stepping out and trying new things. Is it because I am radical that I am moving towards a more natural life style? No. Is it because I think I am better then others. Absolutely not!
My desire from that comes from previous experiance. I lived an unhealthy life style and as a result was extremely sick for a year. I wrecked my body from poor nutrition etc. So now I KNOW what certain foods do to me and the effect they can have on the body and yet-I had started eating them again. WHAT? It didn't make sense!
Then the Lord showed me that not only am I responsible before Him for myself but now for my child as well! Whew. That was a revelation! Not really but in a sense it was!
So, I have been making that transition (once again) to more of a natural way of living. I already have stories and will be sharing more with all of you here.
Something was still missing though.
Then, once again I realized something. I have been trying to live for the Lord but without HIM in the picture. What? Honestly, I have really been struggling with making time to actually spend time with my Savior. To go before HIM and seek HIS face. To spend time in prayer and meditation on His Word. The excuse? Well, I am busy. The problem is-when this baby comes I will be even busier! And I do not want to sacrifice my relationship with Jesus! He needs to be FIRST! Priority. Over all things. Even...ministry. Facebook and blogging (huge distractions for me sigh).
In the Word we are called to do all things to the glory and honor of God. Well, I am realizing all things entails-laundry, house cleaning, cooking, etc. The little things that may seem so mundane and yet God wants us to do them for HIM!
I am a paper keeper. Especially in my Bible (much to my husband's chagrin!) and a few days ago I found a paper I had saved that had a bunch of notes from a sermon.
It is dated August 16, 2009:
Am I fulfilling my duty? Am I an unworthy servant who is just doing what I am told to do? Has God told me what to do with my life (yes I am to be a wife and Mama right now serving God and ministering alongside my husband)? If He hasn't-why?
We are servants of Christ...we need to do what He tells us to do. If we can not hear Him...if we do not know what His will is...we need to spend more time with Him. Am I investing the talents God has given to me? I need to be using my gifts for God's honor and glory alone.
Am I walking with the Master? Am I spending time with my Master so that I know His will for me and also His love for me. Am I allowing my hands to get weak instead of asking God to strengthen me and stopping and putting my hands together and asking God to help me.
Funny how just random thoughts from years ago God can use to convict once again. I want to live my life for Christ. But I have just been trying to fit Him in it when it is convenient for me. It seems as though this is a continual battle for me to center my life around HIM. But I believe that is part of the journey.
Oh how thankful I am that my Heavenly Father is so patient and forgiving. How thankful I am that He receives me with open arms.
I want to be all I can be for my Master-Jesus Christ. Right now that involves being a keeper at home and soon being a Mama to my child. Trying to do all that though without Jesus-does not work.
Give me Jesus...truly I just want Him once again.
I feel as though I am at the beginning of yet another journey! I am thinking about possibly starting a new blog as I feel I am moving into a new chapter of my life. What are your thoughts?
Also, if you have any fun tips, advice, favorite blogs about healthy, more natural living I would LOVE to hear them! :)
May the Lord richly bless you!
4 comments:
So exciting to begin a new journey... :) Have you ever been to Simple Mom? (http://simplemom.net/) I really like these blogs (there's also Simple Kids, Simple Bites, Simple Organic and Simple Homeschool) under the Simple Life banner. There's lot of interesting things to read, on organisation, through to eating, budgets and beauty/personal care.
I want to go back and read your post again and really comment on the personal/spiritual side of it... so I'll leave another comment soon. :)
Hope this is a help! If I find any others I'll let you know...
BTW, how did the maternity jean search go? Did you find some? I think you mentioned jeans in a post since we've prayed for miraculous ones... did you find them? Hope you are feeling well, beautiful Mamma-to-be!
Awwww you are just the sweetest thing :) Thank you so much I will definitely have to look up that website! :)
Oh AND the Lord let me use a pair of jeans when it was freezing. They are too big right now (won't be for long LOL) but it worked! So here is the neatest thing though! I had been wanting a maternity like long skirt cause all my other ones are summer, not warm and to small. Ahem. So anyway I had looked online but they are like 50 bucks! So this friend just sent me this box with like 5 SKIRTS!!!!!! What an awesmoe blessing that was :) God provides! i will be doing a post on that soon as well :)
Blessings!
Katy
I think starting a new blog is a good idea! Just to separate/mark the beginning of a new section of one's life - it's a good idea, I think. =)
I don't really have any blogs to recommend, but we eat fairly healthy (compared to most of America) at my home, so I have a few 'tips'. One good tip is to grind your own whole grain, if you can. Or, pay someone for flour if they can grind flour for you with their grain mill. It costs a lot to get your own mill, but if you save up, it is WELL WORTH it! Then, you buy in bulk and it saves you a ton of money, plus it's way healthier than processed flour.
We do so many things 'natural' that it's just a part of our life, and I'm actually having to think to figure out what some of it is =). Make your own: bread, salad dressing, mac&cheese, spaghetti sauce (it doesn't have to take five hours!). I think a lot of times, more natural just means making it yourself to avoid all the junk in the store-bought stuff. If you make it yourself, you know what all is in it, and it's way easier to eat naturally. We even make our own 'cream of chicken soup' substitute. I'm sure there's more, but there's some off the top of my head.
Also, try to get more organic or pure ingredients, as well as natural things like dishwasher detergents. And, using things like coconut oil in cooking. (Coconut oil actually has tons of other usages other than just cooking! You can use it as lotion, even!) Speaking of lotion, whatever you put on your skin goes into your body, so if you aren't willing to eat it, you probably shouldn't put it on your skin. That's what I've heard anyway.
Hopefully this is helpful in some way.
-Cari
Thanks SO MUCH Cari! This was really helpful!!!! It is definitely a life style change that is for sure :)
I am going to try making my own natural laundry soap (we will see how that goes) and buying things organic as much as possible! Which is hard sometimes cause WOW it can get expensive!!! Lol :)
I think I am going to really start working on making new blog. Totally scary but I really do believe it is a new chapter in my life and it is time...We will see what happens! :)
Blessings!!! :)
Katy
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