Blissfully Domestic

Belief

The Desires of Your Heart

Is there a desire in your heart, a dream you want to pursue? The most important thing you can do is to turn your dream and your waiting over to God on a day-to-day basis. Be faithful to do what you've been given to do today, and in faith spend some time each day praying about your dream and preparing yourself to step out on the dream when the time is right.

"'I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)

Take time to ask God to show you what you can do to move a little toward your dream and become the woman He created you to be.

(from Desperate Households, by Kathy Peel)

Traveling Light

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28 NLT).

 Rest from the burden of a small god. Why? Because I have found the Lord.

Rest from doing things my way. Why? Because the Lord is my Shepherd.

Rest from endless wants. Why? Because I shall not want.

Rest from weariness. Why? Because he makes me to lie down.

Rest from worry. Why? Because he leads me.

Rest from hopelessness. Why? Because he restores my soul.

Rest from guilt. Why? Because he leads me in the paths of righteousness.

Rest from arrogance. Why? Because of his name’s sake.

Rest from the valley of death. Why? Because he walks me through it.

Rest from the shadow of grief. Why? Because he guides me.

Rest from fear. Why? Because his presence comforts me.

Rest from loneliness. Why? Because he is with me.

Rest from shame. Why? Because he has prepared a place for me in the presence of my enemies.

Rest from my disappointments. Why? Because he anoints me.

Rest from envy. Why? Because my cup overflows.

Rest from doubt. Why? Because he follows me.

Rest from homesickness. Why? Because I will dwell in the house of my Lord forever.

From Traveling Light Copyright 2001, Max Lucado

Encouragement for the Home

Good family management is about a lot more than providing a clean house and an orderly environment. It's about nurturing our families and helping them connect in meaningful ways with each other, with the outside world, and perhaps most important, with their own talents, skills, and spirits so they become the people God created them to be. It's about creating an atmosphere in which our families can enjoy living, laughing, and learning together.

A cheerful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22)

What's the fun quotient at your home? Research has shown that joyful laughter causes the brain to create endorphins that relieve stress and activate the immune system. Our families-as well as ourselves-need a dose of this kind of medicine on a regular basis.

If your family ranked your home on a scale of zero to five, zero being unpleasant and not fun and five being pleasant and fun, what do you think your score would be?

(from Desperate Households, Kathy Peel)

Encouragment During Tough Times

You already know that being a parent can be the most rewarding experience imaginable. But no one ever said it would be easy. Discouragement is always just around the corner, because progress in ourselves and in our families can be slow, spiritual growth a matter of fits and starts. Yet, with God's spirit working within us, we're always on the upward trail. And His promises can encourage us when the going gets tough.

Rely on the sufficiency of Christ...
Lord, we are rivers running to thy sea,
Our waves and ripples all derived from thee:
A nothing we should have, a nothing be,
Except for thee.
Sweet are the waters of thy shoreless sea,
Make sweet out waters that make haste
to thee;
Pour in thy sweetness, that ourselves may be
Sweetness to thee.
~Christina Rossetti

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
       he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.
       He guides me in paths of righteousness
       for his name's sake.

Even though I walk
       through the valley of the shadow of death,
       I will fear no evil,
       for you are with me;
       your rod and your staff,
       they comfort me.

Psalm 23:1-4

adapted from Bible Promises to Treasure for Mom