Using Plants To Detoxify The Air In Your Home

With all the allergens and pollutants bombarding our respiratory systems continuously,  I thought of investing on and clean air filter.  But, since I like to think of ways to do with best without the price tag, I am now having some of these amazing plants.  These will bring life and freshness into the home as well and purify it from toxins.  Much better than an air filter.  I still think the air filter would be a good idea though, but this is what I can do now.  You don't have to have a green thumb to maintain them too.  Aloe vera, for example, is so durable and resistant that with a little water it will look beautiful.  I always like to have one by my kitchen window sill because when my kids come in with a scrape or cut, there goes a little of aloe vera gel.

Here are six indoor plants that clean the air in your home chosen by Lori from the Health Extremist:

Several years ago NASA studied houseplants and their ability to purify the air in indoor spaces. They found that certain plants were better at filtering the air and removing volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) than others.

Why Indoor Plants that Clean the Air Improve Health?
Not only are indoor plants beneficial for increasing oxygen levels in our homes, they have also been found to reduce the toxins in the air we are breathing.

The air in our homes has been shown to contain harmful toxins which ultimately end up in our bodies. Whether the toxins are from building materials, paint, out-gassing carpets, dust, or flame retardants, the levels of these toxins in the air can be reduced.

These plants can reduce many air pollutants including formaldehyde, microbial pathogens, benzene and microbial pathogens.

How Many Should You Have in Your Home
According to NASA it is recommended that you have about 15 to 18 of these plants in your home (this was recommended for a 1800 sq foot home). Remember to also place at least one plant in your bedroom, preferably more.

Even if you don’t have a green thumb, these indoor plants that clean the air are very easy to take care for and require little work.

6 Indoor Plants that Clean the Air:
These plants are the most beneficial for improving indoor air quality. You should be able to find all of these plants locally.

1. Aloe

Aloe plants are very beneficial for increasing oxygen levels in your home. They have also been found to absorb formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. According to Earthship, one pot of aloe is equivalent to nine biological air cleaners.

 

 

 

2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider plants are able to perform photosynthesis under minimal lighting. They aid in absorbing toxins in the air including formaldehyde, styrene, carbon monoxide, and benzene. One spider plant is able to effectively filter a room of 200 square feet.

 

 

 

3. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

English ivy is another great indoor plant that removes toxins. This plant has been shown to reduce 60% of airborne mold and 58% of airborne feces after being placed in a room for only 6 hours!

 

 

 

4. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum ’Mauna Loa’)

Having a peace lily in your home greatly reduces the chemical toxins in the air. Peace lily plants filter out harmful benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde.

 

 

 

5. Snake Plant or mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata‘Laurentii’)

This indoor plant that cleans the air is just about indestructible, if your looking to start out with easy to care for plant, this would be the one to choose. Snake plants aid in removing toxins from the air and require little to no lighting.

 

 

 

6. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Rubber plants excel at removing toxins from the air, particularly formaldehyde. These plants require minimal lighting and also easy to care for. Note: the leaves can be toxic, so if you have any pets in your home, be careful.

 

 

 

Want More Variety?
NASA also listed the following plants as beneficial for improving the indoor air quality in homes. These plants may be more difficult to find locally, but if you come across any of these plants, be sure to pick one up!

-Golden pothos or Devil’s ivy (Scindapsus aures or Epipremnum aureum)
-Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
-Bamboo palm or reed palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
-Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium, syn.Philodendron cordatum)
-Selloum philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum, syn.Philodendron selloum)
-Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)
-Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
-Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragrans Massangeana)
-Janet Craig dracaena (Dracaena deremensis Janet Craig
-Warneck dracaena (Dreacaena dermenisis Waneckii)
-Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)

Do you have any of these indoor plants that clean the air in your home?  Share with us any tips.

http://www.naturalnews.com/035593_indoor_air_plants_detox.html
http://thisgreenearth.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/top-10-plants-to-improve-indoor-air-quality/

 

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The Myth Of A Mother's Paycheck

The greatest excuse women give for not staying at home is that they can't afford it.  They need two incomes to survive.  I live in one of the top 4 most expensive areas of the nation and even here, I have been able to stay home.  But for those who think they need that second job.  I would pose the challenge of sitting down and add up some numbers.  You will be surprised.  Here is a very conservative example.

Annual wage                             $14,000.00

Monthly salary                              $1,166.66

EXPENSES (Monthly)

1. Federal income tax (25%)                $292

2. State income tax (5 %)                          58

3. Social Security tax (7%)                         81.66

4. Tithe                                                           117.00

5. Gas (400 miles @ 60 c per mile)        240

6. Car (maintenance, ins., registration)  35

7. Meals ($6 a day)                                      120

8. Extra clothes and cleaning                 100

9. Forteited savings on thrift

shopping                                                   116.66

10. Hairdresser                                            20

11. Employee insurance                            80

12. Day care

($150 a week, one child)                 200

13. "I owe it to myself" expense             95        


                                       TOTAL   $1,555.32

Net Loss    ($388.66)

 

As you can see, the numbers are pretty conservative.  You may have higher numbers and higher income as well as extra unnecessary expenses.
For some reason, just because a family has two incomes they excuse having extra memberships and things that are not really needed.  Therefore, the numbers are different for each.  Even if you end up with, let's say, $388.88 positive instead of negative, is it worth it?  All that absence from your family, your children, missing out their growing up, having others enjoy them (or not) every day and not enjoying your home because you are gone all day?  Just for a few hundred dollars a month.  God is bigger than a few hundred dollars a month.  He is able to supply all our needs.  When we are face with a need, then we become creative.  Your home can become a center of industry and productivity.

How are your numbers?  Are you willing to let go and let God provide?  Is your husband supportive of you staying home?

 

 

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The Home: A Place of Economics - Part 9

I really want to inspire women to come back home and make it their center for economic affairs.  It can be their source, not a sacrifice.  I wish to debunk the myths about why a woman needs to work outside the home to make it financially and bring in another paycheck.  Although I do not know every situation, impossible and by all means, God is in control of every one of our lives, I would take the topic biblically.  You take your situation to the Lord.  Hopefully, husband will also do all he can to have wife at home.

1. Every member of the family is a contributor

No free riders here.  So many teenagers have been so spoiled with their parents providing everything for them without asking anything in return.  The teen earns some money for his own pleasure.  The young adult starts work for his own interests as well.  Of course, each child can save for personal expenses, but the family has one bank account.  We are so used to seeing each other very individualistic that we have forgotten that we are part of a family unit.  We all work together toward the same goal.

It was well said of years past that the bigger the family the better well off they were financially because each member of the family contributed to the family economics.

It is important that children are trained to understand about bills and being resourceful.  They can contribute by being conservative in consuming utilities.  They should also have work assigned to them that they are responsible for.  I tell my kids everyday, “if you don’t work, you don’t eat.”  Even before breakfast, they have had to do some type of work I assign for each of them.  We don’t give allowance because we don’t believe in free money.  We earn it by working.  If the children want something, they find ways to make money.  Of course, we also give gifts.  We love giving gifts but the gifts are well thought out for a purpose.

Training the children to contribute

At our home, I hold tea parties on a weekly basis.  We call them entrepreneurial tea parties.  After preparing the yummy dainties together and learning manners and respectable behavior, I also tell them in advance to bring all their business ideas.  I write them on a board to brainstorm.  We are impregnated with ideas, tons of them.  We are always pretty busy working on something.  Our home is a booming place of industry.   I like instilling in the children an entrepreneurial spirit.  They get creative and really start going on what we can make to sale and services we can provide.  It is really fun.  It changes their thinking from expecting Dad to be the sole income provided to everyone being actively at it.  We are a six-income household.  That’s right even baby is included in businesses.  Our little Liberty makes great photography poses.

What Can Mom Do?

At this point of my life, I am consumed with the training of my little people.  So I inspire them in business endeavourers and help them make it a reality.  It is part of our home education.  We make things together and sell them.   I also help my husband in whatever I can.  I am overwhelmed by the potential we have at home to generate income.  All we need is creativity.  Other things we can do is to save, stretch the money that comes in.  Practicing frugality doesn’t mean living cheap; far from it.  Many times being frugal for us means living healthier.

Trusting in the Lord for our finances

I have experienced the hand of God on our lives as we have chosen to obey His Word about being a keeper at home, taking the responsibility of training our children, and being a helper to my husband, not some other man at work.  We have had no income for over three years now and we have lacked nothing.  In fact, God has provided over abundantly many times.  We don’t know where our food is going to come next month.  How are we going to pay our bills?  It is interesting that the Lord gave us all four of our children in the times of lack.  When my husband was laid off, our firstborn came.  Then his business close and the last two were born.  During these last three and a half years, we have story after story of God’s Providences over our lives.

I am not the only one to have this testimony.  I know others, and have heard of miracles God has done as mothers decide to stay home and raise their children.  Even single mothers have been able to do it in various creative ways.

If you work outside the home and have a longing to come back home to be with your children and really be a helpmeet to your husband, pray, pray, pray.  God will meet you according to your faith.  He is Faithful.

Do you have fears or concerns? 

If you have creative ideas to share I would love to create a community where we help each other generate sources of income to bless our family and others.

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The home as a place of real hospitality - Part 8

Is hospitality throwing a Martha Stewart fancy or trendy dinner or superbowl party for our friends or family? According to the Bible, it definitely does not end there. One thing is for sure, as I looked into Scripture for home as a place of hospitality, I saw that it meant to welcome strangers, foreigners, and God’s ministers. One example of welcoming strangers is when Abraham welcomed the three visitors into his tent and fed them (Gen 19:2-3).
“Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” (Hebrews 13:2) Who knows if I have ever entertained angels.

[caption id="attachment_2079" align="aligncenter" width="604"] Notice Hospitality is very much tied to food. Best way to make use of your kitchen.[/caption]

We have had many different precious people come in and out of our home. Brothers and sisters who have been in need of housing have found a place of refuge under our roof. Interestingly, just months after we have hosted a couple who were homeless, we were hosted by a beautiful sister in the Lord when we were homeless. You never know when you will be on the other side of a situation.

[caption id="attachment_2081" align="aligncenter" width="604"] Celebrating The Feast of Tabernacles. Sukkot. A Time of Rejoicing.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2082" align="aligncenter" width="453"] We eat on the floor, like camping. And of course lots of delicious food.[/caption]

One great reason the Lord commands us to open our home to strangers is because He wants us to remember when we were strangers, and homeless in Egypt meaning that without Him we were lost and enslaved. Isaiah 58:7 says that if we feed the hungry and provide a home for the homeless, the promise is that ‘salvation will come!’ There is also a place for great home banquets and feasts. I love these moments. Feasting in the Bible is common. In fact, God is waiting for us to feast with Him once more. Jesus went to feasts into people’s homes like Levi and Zacheaus.

[caption id="attachment_2083" align="aligncenter" width="604"] Our table would overflow with guests and filled with God centered conversations[/caption]

Another of my favorite hospitality experiences is hosting God’s people and ministers of His Word. “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13). This was so common for missionaries to be hosted in Believer’s homes. Remember Mary and Martha? Paul would also send ministers to churches and ask the churches to receive them. Lydia in Acts 16:15 was one of those Believer’s who opened her home for Paul and Silas to stay. How many times have we asked missionaries to stay at our home? We have had quite a few over the years. Ministers from Uganda, Argentina, China, Philippines, Mexico and different US states have blessed our home with their stay.

[caption id="attachment_2085" align="aligncenter" width="604"] Notice the little people. They grow up around the older and hopefully wiser.[/caption]

I have heard the reservations to this type of hospitality. Some Christians have said, “I can’t live like that with people coming in and out all the time, I need my privacy.” Many of us weren’t taught to open our homes. But, as we come to the Lord, He becomes the Lord of our lives including our homes. Everything we have is His, including your house. We are also commanded to obey His Word as Christians we need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us put aside our insecurities and grow us in love for others. Here is a suggestion, once you know that hospitality is expected of you if you are God’s child, then you can start by inviting families in need and lonely young adults over to your home for dinner.

[caption id="attachment_2084" align="aligncenter" width="604"] Awww! How I miss those special moments of sharing our lives with others. Living in community is hospitality at its best.[/caption]

Wow! The potential we have in using our homes as a blessing to many is truly amazing. Are you ready to give up your privacy for a greater purpose God has for your house? Many Christians don’t have homes like yours around the world. Why do you think God gifted you with this one? If we don’t have a vision for our homes we will fall into the temptation of coveting nicer kitchens, be frustrated with meaningless things around the house and just be miserable. But if we view it as a place of hospitality, then we will gratefully keep it clean and prepared to host whomever the Lord would bring.

Will you host in your home someone new, lonely, or homeless?

What are some ideas you practice hospitality?

The Home - Part 9

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The Home As A Lighthouse - Part 7

 

The home is to be a place where we shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:15).  This world needs to see God’s goodness in our families.  Friends, relatives and neighbors are watching and waiting to see what a home in Christ really is.  A great challenge we have before us is in Acts 2:46 where the early church believers gather together to share their lives, food and learn more of the Savior.  These homes were full of thankfulness and generosity.  One way we can teach thankfulness to our children is always around the meal table.  It may be like a meaningless routine to say grace before eating.  But it is up to us how we do it.  I make it very clear that we are fed by God’s gracious hand.  Food on our table is a gift from God and it is just plain rude to eat without saying thanks.  Just by this simple act of gratitude wherever we are, we are shining our light.   We also make it a joyful time by singing our thanksgiving to God before we eat.



Wherever we go, we try to stay together as a family.  You will be surprised what an impact this is to many, even Christians.  Many have come to us and told us that they were blessed just by watching our family and how we interact with one another.  Then I try to be more conscious and careful of my actions and attitude.

A farmer at farmer’s market, finally approached my and said, “you know, I am getting married in two weeks and I wanted to ask you for advise on how to raise my children because I have been observing every week your kids and they are very obedient.  How do you teach them?  I like children and I look forward in having my own someday?”  Wow!  First of all, I commended him for liking children.  This is very, very unusual.  Almost all the comments I get weekly as I am out with my children are that children are a burden.  Sure they are “cute” but only one or two of them and that was enough.  I also let the gentleman know that my children are just as any other children, sinful by nature, but we teach them what God requires of them.  They only way to godly parenting is through Christ and by His grace only.

One way we can be a lighthouse is by prayer walking our neighborhood.  Simply pray with your children for your neighbors.  You will be surprised how the Lord opens opportunities to share His goodness with others.

Here is a great tool if you want to connect with others praying in for your neighborhood: http://www.transformourworld.org/en/adopt

 

How do you cultivate a spirit of gratitude in your home so it can shine with joy?

The Home - Part 8

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The Home: A Center For Discipleship - Part 6

 

When we gather as a family to brainstorm for ideas to do or make for others, our mission is always before us.  Christ charged us with the Great Commission, “Go ye and make disciples of all nations…”   Therefore, everything we decide to make and do has that in mind, “to make disciples”.  That is the purpose of this site, too.  In the home, we focus on discipleling our children as they also watch us, parents, how we try to imitate Christ and be His disciples.  This aspect of the home is so critical.  It is parenting by intent rather than by default.

Parenting by default is also parenting but with no purpose or vision, just let life go by and do what you have to do to survive.  You know, sleep, eat, go to school, get a job, get married and have kids so they can go to school and continue the cycle.  Parenting by intent is having a purpose.  Our purpose for every Christian home should be to point our children to the Savior so they can have their personal relationship with Him.  Jesus commands us to let the children come to Him.  Wow to us is we are stumbling blocks for our children to come to Him.  The way we present the Gospel, our prayer life and even the way we read His Word will communicate a love for God or religion.

The home is the place where children meet and encounter God.  It is a place of Evangelism.  It is not Sunday school, youth group or children’s church.  It is the home.  The home needs to be supplying the church with the leaders, pastors, teachers, evangelists, apostles and prophets.

How do we parent intentionally?

The answer is very simple:  Just being with your children.  As Deuteronomy 6:4-6 teaches us, when you rise up, when you sit down, when you walk by the way, and when you lie down.  Everyday, there are many opportunities to disciple our children in the ways of the Lord, which is the way they should go.

I have mothers coming to me asking me to have play dates with them so their children homeschooled or toddlers can grow in their social skills.  I do like to get together with other moms who are homeschooling or have little children.  But, I am also always concerned because small children tend to learn from each other’s sinful natures.  Parents misunderstand that their children don’t need other children their age to learn social skills.  On the contrary, children need to be with older adults or mature older children who can teach them good social skills.  What is a three year-old going to learn from another three year old?  Proverbs 13:20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

Some ways we disciple our children in a day to day basis is by simply pointing out what the Word of God says about issues that come up or about His Creation as we talk a walk.  When they disobey, I instruct the what God requires from them, to obey their parents.  When they are unkind to one another, I remind them over and over that Jesus commanded us to love one another.  As we study History, we draw lessons from His dealings with man.  As we study God’s Creation, we marvel at such powerful designs in plants, animals and the entire physical world.

Jesus certainly demonstrated it to us when he chose his twelve disciples.  They pretty much lived together.  They saw Him pray, eat, love, teach.  The disciples turned around and did the same.  It is my prayer that my children will do the same and even go beyond what we teach them.

How do you disciple your children?  How have your children encountered God in your home?

The Home - Part 7

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The Home, A Garden To Grow - Part 5

3.  The Home, A garden to grow

The model we see in Deuteronomy 6:4-6 is that disciple-making goes on continuously throughout the day.  This is a great challenge!  We, as mothers ought to diligently assist our husbands in the training up of our children.

We must dedicate our day to this aspect of our home.  It is extremely important because if we neglect it, our children, church and society will suffer huge setbacks.

Our children’s hearts are like a garden.  This spring we have a garden going on which we have to tend to everyday.  We have to water it, check for weeds, protect it from predators and prune it when the time comes.  Our children too grow and need the tender nurture that only a mother can give.  We are with them most of the time.  We see the “weeds” springing up.  We take note, pray about it and pluck them out.  Those grow naturally;  it’s the sinful nature.  Proverbs commands us to diligently discipline our children (Proverbs 13:24).

Having a multigenerational vision will help us see even past our children but great grandchildren.  We want to grow a solid family legacy that will flourish in this world with the love of God.  For this, it will take diligent vigilance.  Remember that the weeds grow naturally and can choke up a beautiful plant.
When I see a mature tree that is crooked.  I like to point it out to my children and tell them,  “Do you see that tree over there?  Why do you think it just grew like that, sideways, instead of straight up to be tall and provide shade or good fruit without breaking?”  They would answer,  “It was not disciplined with the rod.”  “That’s right”, I would affirm and point to a small tree that is growing with rods tied to it so it can grow straight.  “How do you think this tree will grow?”  I ask, “Straight,  they answer.  “That’s is with us, God has to discipline us and help us through His Spirit to grow straight into His Likeness, not crooked looking like the world.”


Just this task of the home alone takes daily full attention to all your children’s hearts.   I confess, that I am nervous at times when someone wants to take my children or want them to visit.  One exposure to the world’s ways, can defile a child’s innocent mind and undermine all the work I’ve tried to cultivate for years.  I take my job very seriously before God.  That is why I don’t desire more a “Mom’s day off” from my children, as much

as a “Mom’s day off” from household duties, so I can free up more time to tend to the hearts of my children.

There is a big deception in many women who think that caring for your children at home is full of mundane activity.  This is not true.  I have even come to like washing dishes, because my precious five-year-old is

so excited to do it with me.  I take this opportunity to bind her heart to mine, and disciple her to Christ likeness.  It is when I see my daughter struggling, giving up, on a task, that I am right beside her encouraging her and reminding her of God's promises.  Of course there are chores I detest, but as I properly align my heart to His Word, I begin to thank Him for all these dishes that need to be put away or all these laundry that needs to be done.  I can’t imagine life without these children or my husband.  How sad it would be if I didn’t have dishes or clothes to clean for them.  And the more the merrier life is!



This careful tending of our children’s hearts can only be done by mother.  Even father’s role is different.  He will lead the whole family in taking dominion.  He is not so in tune with the day-to-day growth of the children because he doesn’t spend as much time with them as Mom does.  But his role is extremely important, so much so that family is dysfunctional without him.   We have a fatherless society, a broken down society.  Fathers who have abandoned their families physically or psychologically.  Yes, there are parents who have switched the responsibility of the growth of their children to school teachers, youth group pastors or Sunday school teachers, who will never be wiling or able to daily pray for them, weed them, discipline then, nurture them so they can grow into men and women of noble character.

At the same time as we devote our lives to cultivate a heart of wisdom in our children, our hearts are also growing into His likeness.  I can say, I am more patient and selfless, thanks to God who gave me these children to mold me in these areas.  My marriage is the primary plant to focus on making sure it is not drying up.  It takes more time and commitment to serve and help my husband.  This is our priority from which the rest overflow.  If we don’t tend to the garden of our home daily with sacrificial love, intentional parenting, and service, we will have a home that resembles the sluggards, full of thorns and weeds.  Our children, to my shame or careful teaching of Proverbs, are quick to point out when they see a front yard that is dry, dirty, full of weeds, thorns and thistles.  “Look, those people are like the sluggard.”

Let’s tend to our hearts, our children’s and our husbands’ with careful and faithful labor so we can grow healthy, and fruitful homes.

What is the state of your garden?  What are your favorite things to do to make it flourish?

The Home - part 6

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Embracing Our Real Identity Part 2

I am a graduate of two prestigious Christian universities.  You would think that going to a higher education Bible school would teach you about what you are called and created for.  Well, to this day, I don’t believe there is a class for ladies on “How To Be A Godly Keeper Of The Home.”  I entered Bible college because I wanted to be a missionary.  Half way through my studies, I was discouraged by other colleagues.  “You want to be a missionary?” They would ask. “I would recommend you get a different degree that would be easier to get a job.  You can always be a missionary without a degree.  But it is hard to support yourself.  You need like a teaching degree.”  I listened and switched my degree to Education.  Women don’t go to college to become better wives, mothers or better homemakers, but to secure a career and make it on your own.  After all, "it’s a very insecure world" they say.

God desires to “transform us into His Likeness” (2 Cor. 3:18).  When He created us he said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” Genesis 1:26). Therefore, my life, my marriage, my home must reflect His Likeness.  How can we reflect His Likeness and His Image?  By being Christlike in all we do.  Instead of accepting who we are to excuse our sin nature.  “Well, that is just who I am” kind of attitude.  We should instead “be transformed by the renewing of our minds” to be in Christ what He has called us to be.  This is a huge responsibility we have before us.  God has entrusted us The Home and as we shine in His Image, our Homes will bring glory to the Creator and communicate His beauty, His joy, His love and our true contentment.

Many have been lost in this culture trying to find this true identity in materialism, prestige, career, in people, leisure, and achievement rather than embrace what God has planned for us already.  Happiness and fulfillment will never happen until we embrace our real purpose, which is in Christ.  Rebellion to this sacred calling of reflecting His image in our homes has destroyed our society. The world is waiting to see rich, vibrant blessed homes once again.

A simple way to start bearing His Image is by embracing what He has done for us.  No more resisting our true identity by trying to be something or someone we are not.  In Him we are complete.  He is the one doing the work everyday of transforming us into His Likeness.  We simply have to surrender to His glorious work in our lives.

Secondly, learn from His Word how He wants you to use the gifts and talents He has given you as you build your home.

Our relationship with our husbands will speak loud to the way we comport ourselves toward them.  This is first and foundational as we wisely work the soil of our home so it can be fertile and grow healthy generations of faithful children.

Once this groundwork has been set, we understand how God designed the home to be like.  People have spent millions in a home, which was a sterile, cold, empty place.  Sure it looked good in the magazines and before family and friends.  But they have lacked vision and purpose for it.  God has a grand and holy purpose for our homes according to His Word.

Next, we will look at how God wants our homes to be used.

Being transformed from glory to glory into His image is an unfathomable thought.  What areas of your life shine His likeness and what areas need more transformation?  The eyes of the world are on us.

The Home - Part 3

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Embracing the True Meaning of Home Part 1

Ever since I was a little girl entering first grade, I was often taunted with the question from teachers, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  After my answers, “a teacher” or “a police woman”, I was given the lecture of empowerment of how I can be anything I wants to be and the, “yes, you can,” pep talk.  I grew up believing that she had to do something outside the home to be someone important.  Being a homemaker is out of the picture.  Who wants to be just that?  The idea was greatly devalued.  Now, when I am filling out some paper work and the dreaded question of “occupation” comes up, and I answer “homemaker”, most think of washing dishes, mopping floors and changing diapers.  Somehow people truly believe anybody can do that.  The truth of the matter is that women are able to be homemakers, but now a day, not every woman is capable of being a homemaker.  It takes training to prepare for such a profession.

It is hopeful to see that more and more women are realizing that real freedom lies in staying at home to raise their family.  Even if the family is grown, the woman’s home ministry continues as an older woman teaching the younger ones as stated in Titus 2.  Living next to me is a very nice lady who works sometimes up to 130 hours in two weeks.  She is away from home through the night at times.  Her husband is home sick and she doesn’t have the privilege to nurse him.  She doesn’t “like” it but, like most in her situation would say, “you gotta do what you gotta do.”  She is the one brining in the paycheck and her husband stays home.  What slavery!  She is not free to plan anything because she is always on call to go work even on her one day off.

In contrast, keeping home is the opposite and very rewarding.  You are building a home for God’s glory and future generations, not some man’s business idea.  What a difference in eternal meaning!  Staying home is not boring at all, or frustrating, not even just mundane.  Many woman in the workforce, now envy the homemakers.  “You get to stay home with your kids?”  The young lady cashier would ask me, “you’re lucky”.

But staying at home is not just taking care of your children.  The opportunities for achievement are really unlimited.  Our home is filled with new ideas almost everyday of how to further the Kingdom of God in business, in ministry, in media, education, government, food industry, missions, marketplace through creative and innovative ways.  I have known of doctors and lawyers who are now envying the profession of a homemaker!

The homemaker is not the romantic picture of perfection painted by Jane Austen.  Although, that time period had distinctive femininity and domesticity, it is not what I am attempting to bring alive here.  But rather, what does the Bible say about our homes and about the homemakers.  The home is also not the Martha Stewart type or the Home and Garden magazines kind and homemakers are not to be the perfectionist -I-have-it-all-under-control type of woman either.

The home was not always devalued. Pastor Steven Wedgeworth describes the home in this way:

“The home used to be a center of agriculture, economic affairs, and education. For the woman to be a “homemaker” was to be an executive over the central nervous system of society. It was to be a master of arts. It was to be a farmer. It was to be a maker. It was to be a temple, a sacrament, a superlative.”

Pastor Wedgeworth compares the home to the body’s nervous system.  If it is injured, or if the wife is not in her post, the body will start decaying, by developing diseases.  Damage to it could end up in paralysis, and even death.The body is made up of many other important parts or professions.  But we can’t argue that these other parts are more important than the Central Nervous System, for without it, they cannot function properly.  If it is broken down, church and society suffer.

God desires for women to embrace this holy mission.  We will never be complete and satisfied unless we undertake the call to "build  our homes (Proverbs 14:1).  

We will very briefly look at what the Home and the Homemaker should be.  This subject is so extensive that I will only describe some of the main components that make a True Home.

So join me this month as I dedicate it to enticing many women to embrace the true meaning of their homes.   As we celebrate our homes and families in the perfect love of God, they will shine bright to the world.  I hope to turn hearts to our Creator by our example of love and joy.  The world is always watching and learning.  What an opportunity to teach by being godly women who love their husbands, children and keep our homes in wisdom and Christ-centered.

What about your home?  How does it look like right now?  What is it's culture?

The Home  - Part 2

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A Homemaker Is A Full Time Stay-At-Home Woman

Yes, it can be done!  I know this topic is very unpopular and most woman, including Christian woman, would argue that "you gotta do what you gotta do", meaning they have no choice but to go out and work.  I have been sorry for many of these women who do desire to stay home with their children but have bought into the lie that there is no way.  Weekly, I see a beautiful young lady at Trader Joe's grocery store who loves my children.  Every week she talks about her little one year-old girl.  She tells me, "You are lucky to get to stay at home with your children, I wish I could too."  And like her are countless of women.  I believe we are wired this way by our Creator.  We are women, nurturers and motherly by nature.  We long to love our husbands and children by providing a peaceful, beautiful, healthy, nourishing atmosphere at home.   This cannot be accomplish by being part-time at home.  Even if we try to "tough it out" in the work force, the longing to be a woman of our home is deep down in each of us.

I have good news!  It can be done!  I am a living proof.  I've also known other women and known of others who have believed God as well for their provision so they can stay at home.  For my husband and I, it was never a question whether I would go out to work.  I did do ministry full time before our first child was born.  After that, I have dedicated eight years  so far to our growing home and I have a vision and a prayer that not only in my life it will continue this way but in the lives of my future generations of daughters and daughters-in-law.  We have friends who asks us, "how do you do it?"  When they find out we have had no income for more than 3 years (more on this story later).  The answer is simply, "By the grace of God and our full trust that He is Faithful".  And no, we take nothing from Obama or any type or Government "assistance".  God has been giving us our daily bread and healing every sickness. We have determined to stand on God's Word and obey it wholeheartedly no matter what the circumstances around us are.  God commands us to teach our children diligently throughout the day (Deut. 6:4-8).   This is perhaps the most important Scripture passage to the Jews.  They would recite it everyday, at the Synagogue and it is very first passage their children would memorize.  It can only be obeyed by parents being with their children throughout the day.  The next command is in Titus 2:5, for women to be "keepers at home that the Word of God be not blasphemed."  God promises to bless us if we obey His commandments and seek His kingdom first.  For me, if I had to choose between either obey God's Word or go out to work to provide for my family, I really don't have a choice.  God's Word will always be authority over my life.  And He definitely has provided day by day in ways we would never had imagine.  We do have story after story of God's providence in providing all that we need in.

Secondly, the stay at home woman is not the picture you get of one cleaning all day, changing diapers, fixing meals on her pajama sweats and a pony tail quickly put together.  Far from it.  We get an excellent picture from the woman of Proverbs 31.  She is industrious, contributing to the financial welfare of the family and yet, tending to the many needs of her family and community.  There are many ways we, as wives, can help our husbands save money, be frugal and work from our homes utilizing the gifts and talents God has given us. In no way do I imply women are to never leave home.  That would be impossible; it's unbiblical and ridiculous. We can be professional business women right from our homes.  This season of lack of income for us has truly been a period of creativity, inspiration and even health in homemaking.  Many women who work outside the home have very poor health and the whole family would suffer because they have no time to prepare a wholesome meal.

O.K. women have also told me, "...but I love my job, I love what I do."  Others have told me after having a baby, "I can't wait to go back to work, I need to get out of my house."  These are Christian women who are teachers at their churches.  If you are one of these, I would urge you to please pray, pray, pray and study the Word of God  and meditate on His desires for us as wives and mothers.  Our home is the building block of society and when we neglect it, we all suffer.  Just look around you.  This broken society is a result of that mentality.  Many have bought the feminists lie that we have a choice about having a career or being at home.  When we belong to Christ, we don't have a choice.  He is our Lord and we obey His commands.  Men don't have a choice but to work.   Being a homemaker is a full time job.

A goal of Blessed Homestead is to encourage women to embrace their homes and nurture their families.  So for the next month, I will be sharing how important "The Home" and the "Homemaker" are to the family, church and society.  I will also share ideas and stories of other women in similar financial situations who are surviving and even thriving without neglecting their God-given duties.  If you are one of them and would like to share your creativity and resources here, I would love to know.

 

 

 

 

 

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Thank You Lord for Motherhood

Thank God, O women for the quietude of your home, and that you are queen in it. Men come at eventide to the home; but all day long you are there, beautifying it, sanctifying it, adorning it, blessing it. Better be there than wear a queen's coronet. Better be there than carry the purse of a princess. It may be a very humble home. There may be no carpet on the floor. There may be no pictures on the wall. There may be no silks in the wardrobe; but, by your faith in God, and your cheerful demeanor, you may garniture that place with more splendor than the upholsterer's hand ever kindled. ~ T. DeWitt Talmage

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