Passionate Homemaking

If you haven’t read Crystal’s post and all the lovely comments on the topic of woman doing ministry, check it out here. I think it is so important to see the value of our role as wives and mothers, and that this is a season for us to focus in our training up our children and serving our husbands. I also like to balance that with looking for opportunities to serve others together from our homes, especially as they get older. That is why I have been posting ideas in our Blessing Others section (and I need your help, as I am running out of ideas!). Our first priority and mission field is definitely our husbands and children, but there are small ways that we can seek to bless those around us. Keeping our priorities in balance is the key. If we don’t have that right than we should go no further. God bless you sisters as you are pursuing your mission field!

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This is my final post in the Growing in Christ Together series. To view part 2 click here, part 1 click here.

Acts 2:41-46
“So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…[they] had all things in common…sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by dad continuing with one mind in the temple, breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.”

3. PRAYER

The apostles and the brethren of the early church were devoted to prayer. Devoted means: zealous or ardent in attachment, loyalty, or affection. They were wholehearted in their love for praying together and individually. They refused to give up on the discipline because they fully understand the benefit and value of it. That is a zeal I long for! How do we grow in our love for prayer? I think it takes the discipline of just doing it and asking the Lord to remind and prompt us of its importance. Just like as we read the Word, if we continue in prayer, our love and joy for it is ever increased.

Here are a few ideas for becoming more purposeful in prayer:

1. Pray during those minimal tasks you do around the house: driving, doing dishes, washing the floor, etc. Or you could use prayer prompts: every time you put your make-up on you pray for your husband, every time you wash the dishes you pray for our country. Whatever works for you! You can see what works for me here.
2. Pray immediately with someone who mentions a prayer need over the phone or face-to-face. Don’t put it off by saying, “I’ll be praying for you”. Nine times out of ten we forget about it when we get home or get off the phone. This takes a lot more thoughtful effort, but aren’t we all so much more encouraged and blessed when we are finished?
3. Pray a blessing over your guests as they leave your home.
4. Make a weekly prayer list that you could post in a specific place with needs of those in the church or friends. Maybe in the bathroom, over the sink, in the car, over the changing table.

Prayer is a powerful way we can serve our family and the church body, being used for the furthance of the kingdom without even leaving our home (that is, unless you are doing it while driving !

4. SHARING WITH OTHERS

Individuals were fully and willingly sharing of their resources with others as needs came up. No one was lacking anything! Before we were married, we were encouraged to write out a marriage purpose statement. In it the Lord encouraged us to set aside a certain percentage of our monthly income for the express purpose of giving to a family in the church who had a need. This has been one of the greatest blessings! Each month we pray that the Lord would show us who we could give this money to, and every time we are able to give a gift of love along with a note letting them know we are praying on their behalf. We are having so much fun we can’t stop doing it even when our budget has changed up and down over our marriage.

IN CONCLUSION …

The world was seeing such a beautiful witness and the early church was flourishing! If the body of Christ was more deliberate in these manners in our day, would we see more new believers coming into the fold? Only the Lord is sovereign over that, but I believe we need a renewed vision as families for the world to see a movement of love, prayer, devotion to the Word, hospitality, and giving to others for the growth of the church and the kingdom of God!

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Several years ago, my family decided to renew our heart for giving and the true meaning of Christmas during the holiday season by giving a special gift to a needy family. There was a family suffering in the church at that time with a newborn girl that had several serious physical problems and therefore, they were suffering greatly. We decided we wanted to give a physical outpouring of blessing upon this family. We went out together and picked out Christmas gifts for each of the other several children and surprised them with these gifts on Christmas Eve. It was such a wonderful time together to serve this family with the love of Christ and the body. From then on our families became very close friends. I treasure this experience as one of our most purposeful and meaningful Christmas traditions growing up. We received the true joy of giving!

How can we treasure the gift of Jesus’ coming this Christmas? Consider giving a gift to Jesus in a similar way, especially as Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. Noel Piper says in her book, Treasuring God in Our Traditions, “One of the unusual things about Jesus is that when we give a gift to him, other people benefit.” Consider how you can refocus on the true meaning of Christmas by setting aside some of your budgeted Christmas funds as a gift for Jesus. With children, they can participate by doing extra chores to earn money/wages for the Jesus gift.

‘And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” (Matt. 25:40)

Decide now if there is a needy family, relief agency, missionary, or local ministry that your family could give to. Start praying on their behalf. Get creative. Maybe you could serve them in a particular way if you do not have funds to give. We can all seek to give a gift to the Giver of Life and receive great blessing and joy in return!

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How often do I take a moment to write a thank you note to one who has blessed me recently? This practice is such a edifying habit to get into. Why should we write thank-you notes? It is to acknowledge our appreciation for the love of others! It tells others we are blessed by their fellowship, the way they served us or others, their giftings, etc. It encourages them to continue in the calling that God has placed on their lives. It is so easy to become discouraged and overwhelmed, this is true especially for those who are in places of authority in your life (church, parents, leadership). They need a little note now and then just letting them know you are praying for them or that you are blessed by their service.

Writing Notes of Thanks

Who has ministered to you lately? Take a moment to jot down a thank you note. Have a box of thank-you’s always on hand for these occasions. If a sermon ministered to you, write a note of appreciation. If someone extended hospitality to you, don’t forget to let them know that you enjoyed their fellowship and the invitation. If someone served you in someway, acknowledge it! Make it personal and specific. It doesn’t have to be long and detailed. Short and sweet will do the trick! Just write it from your heart. Ask the Lord for the words to write that would bless them.

Writing Notes of Encouragement

Awhile back I had the idea of writing a note of encouragement or thanks to one person each week. I tried to think of someone I knew at the beginning of the week who might need a note of love and encouragement. I would often pray that the Lord would prompt me with someone who might need it at that time. I have been so blessed over and over by the response I received from these simple notes. One time a suffering sister called me after receiving my note and said it came at just the right time when she needed it the most. How was I to know her trial if it weren’t for the Lord’s prompting! There is just something about getting a personal and thoughtful note in the mail from someone that was thinking of you that ministers powerfully. Pray that the Lord would give you the words to write that would minister to them right there and now. God can use this ministry in amazing ways. Offer up a little prayer as you send it on its way that it would be able to bless its recipient.

This is such a way to serve and minister to others from your own home. Unfortunately, I have become a little slack in this habit as of late, so if nothing else, I am giving myself a fresh vision and reminder to get back into the discipline. In fact, I am going to take a moment right now and go write a note…will you join me?

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