I Can't Help It...

The short answer to that statement is "Yes, you can."

The longer answer, the answer that takes time to explain and implement, is that everything we do, say, and think, flows out of what we believe to be true. The tricky part is figuring out what is actually going on under the surface.

I want you to picture a fruit tree. The fruit is the evidence of what kind of tree you have growing. Our tree is sustained by roots that dig deep. Our heart is contained in these roots, and as Luke 6:45 tells us, it is out of the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks.

The anger, fear, or bitterness that sneaks out of our mouths reveals what is really going on inside our hearts. We need to examine our behavior, thoughts, and actions from the viewpoint of Christ. In John 15:5, He tells us that apart from Him we can bear no good fruit. Sounds a little far-fetched, because we like to think we are in complete control. Sometimes complete control is actually complete denial.

Apart from Christ, we can try and try but we can't change our hearts ourselves. It is the relationship with Jesus Christ that changes us from the inside out; the process requires our reaching to Him, but He does the work. An obedient heart and openness to something that may be contrary to what we believe to be true may be necessary for His fruit to bloom in us, but it will bloom.

As you evaluate your own words and actions, what do they say about the real you? What do you really believe about the people and world around you, about yourself? Before you say "That's just the way I am", offer your heart to Jesus and ask Him to change it, from the inside out.

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

 faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)"

Happy Is the Home...

We spent a couple of weeks learning about home management. We are, as moms, the CEO's of our homes...the Chief Environmental Officers. You have probably heard the saying "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." Because our home is the place we are nururing, teaching, and loving our families, it makes sense that we would want them to run smoothly.

When it comes to cooking, being organized is key. Studies show that families who eat together have less incidence of teen pregnancy, drug use, and behavior issues. We can use the family dinner table to connect on a regular basis with our kids and husbands, share values, and process life together. If you are stressed out about getting dinner on the table, chances are that it will not be a relaxing experience. Take a few minutes to plan your meals, check your supplies, and make one trip to the store each week. Being organized also allows you to provide a meal for someone in need on short notice and bless someone else's family. I have found the website www.momonamission.me to be extremely helpful. It is a wealth of information, planning sheets, weekly menus, and great recipes. Check it out!

Along with feeding our families comes the responsibility of cleaning, organizing, and decorating our homes. Jessica and Erika taught on these subjects. The number one reason we should do anything is to glorify God, and if we are screaming at our kids because we can't find anything, we are not glorifying God. Jessica talked about the benefits of getting organized and having a routine to accomplish tasks. Involving your kids early on might make more work for you in the short run, but pays off in the long run. Erika gave us many tips on decorating our homes, but the best part of the talk in my eyes was her opening: Decorating is exciting but can lead to discontentment. Be careful that you are not basing your worth in the way your house looks. A great tip she had was to not put out all your stuff at once. That way, you can shop your storage when you are ready for a change. Great job, girls!

As you can see, the tasks and duties that come along with running your home are not an end in themselves. We use these activities to create an environment of peace, love, learning, and security for our families. Let us not fail to see the big picture behind the seemingly endless days of laundry, cooking, and cleaning. God has a plan for these years.