All the voices...

If you’re anything like me, you have several voices in your head telling you what to do. (I may just have admitted that I should be admitted.)

I have voices in my head like this:

“Don’t compliment your child too much or they will be vain.”

“Make sure you require first-time obedience.”

“You shouldn’t be making any money.”

“You shouldn’t let your kids watch that movie.”

“You should be good at cleaning by now.”

“You should always be submissive to your husband without any argument.”

There is a long line of voices, and some are good and some aren’t, but the point is, none of them really matter. There is only One voice that matters, and that is the one that needs to be listened to.

I need to listen to that voice even when others think I’m wrong.

I need to listen to that voice even when it’s easier to take someone else’s opinion.

I even need to listen to that voice when that voice points to how He made me…I need to listen to my gut sometimes (maybe that is the Holy Spirit).

If I want to compliment my kiddos day and night and tell them they are “good” and “important” and “beautiful” then I’m going to do that. If I know that God is doing something in my life even when others don’t understand, I’m going to say, “Okay God, I trust you with this so I’m going to dance it out as you lead.” Etc., etc.

It is so freeing to hone in on my Father’s voice and push out the others. It’s not easy (there are so many voices), but I’m learning how to distinguish His (and it certainly helps if I’m staying in the Word everyday –one of my goals).

If you have many voices telling you how to act, what to do (or not do), might I encourage you to ask God to teach you to hear His voice? Listen to Him, He will guide gently, and He isn’t in a box (so don’t assume). Approach His throne of grace, and push back all others.

If you know Him, you have His spirit. Listen.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

By S. Mae

My Mission Statement

For the past several months (6 to 8 months) I've been on a transformation journey to become the Guardian of the Home - of my home.

 Diane, my Pastor's wife gave this "title" to my sister when she moved to Florida and was having some time adjusting to the change.

After thinking and thinking about it I realized that I wanted to become the Guardian of my Home, hey why couldn't I?

In order to take this journey I had to pause some things - including my blogging, crafting, etc.

I had to start my taking care of my house... first part was the organization of my home. When you think of it, everything is tied to organization. If we are the Home Makers - we need to be organized so our home can run smoothly.

For YEARS I've been blaming my "messiness" on my mom... I guess its easy to pass the blame on someone else. Why my mom - hmmm maybe I was rebelling because she took such great care of her home. She was a true Guardian of Apartment 2K. She always made sure that her apartment, her home was clean, organized and well taken care of.  A time came that my mom didn't work outside of the home, but she sure did inside the home.  She took care of several children full time, and a hand full after school. So it wasn't like she was sitting at home eating bon bons. She helped us with our homework and dinner was always on the table and the list goes on and on.

The more I prayed about it and looked deep into those secret places of my "issue" I realized that my "messiness" was not due to me being "rebellious" but rather me being lazy. Oh my, yes I said it... my laziness!!!! I just didn't want to, moving stuff around was simple enough. I preferred to watch tv, be on the computer, or look away.  Ahhhhhh. No more excuses. It was time for change. Change is hard, but it was something we all had to do.

When did this happen, how did it happen??? Well those questions no longer mattered. It was affecting my life and the lives of my husband and children negatively, and I needed to acknowledge how bad it really was in order to make changes.

My messiness has nothing to do with having a dirty house. My house is pretty much clean... the problem is STUFF... much of my stuff is homeless, my stuffs are gypsies - they travel from corner to corner, room to room. Why??? I don't know... and this "stuff" made me suffer from DPD - (Doorbell Panic Disorder).

So I started thinking why do I want a clean home... I came up with three basic points:
I love having people over – to hangout, for coffee, Bible study, etc. and so hospitality is a huge reason why I like to have my home clean.

I also felt that health (hygiene) was another important reason. I don’t want bugs! Haven't had them and don't want them. I love it when my kitchen is clean and sparkling, and I really like the bathroom to be CLEAN!  Those rooms are like the jewel to a home.  With three little ones the bathroom is not always and it can make me insane! I don't want to have to run into the bathroom when guests come by and do a speedy check!!!

Its sooo easy to justify it - many people have said: You work, you have three young kids, you do ministry, etc., etc. - and for some time I was like "Yeah, my home can be like this because of all these reasons"... but then the word Stewardship came to mind (which means: the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care).  Ouch!!!

You see - we didn't get this house, we had nothing to do with it. I remember we saw it and we were excited about it and before we even went in to see it, my husband and I sat across the street in our car and we prayed for this house. God gave us this house... and He wants it to be taken care of, He wants us to use it for His honor and glory. Therefore that means that I have to take care of it and teach my children to take care of it... keeping it clean, picking things up, putting things away, etc.

And then finally happiness. It makes me happy to walk in the house and have it be clean – or rather tidy! I know it’s not always dusted and the baseboards are not always clean, but tidy…tidy is the goal.  Its a tremendous feeling coming home and seeing how wonderful it looks!!! It not perfect but I'm really enjoying the change.  I want to walk into a room and literally be able to WALK in the room. LOL I have a place for everything and having everything in its place makes me happy.  And when mom is happy... everyone seems happier!!!

I haven't reached my journey, but its looking good... I'm happy, my children are picking up on it. So now I begin to improve on the changes, take it up another level... I'm excited!!!