Sweet Harmonies of Home: March 2014

Week 7 focused our hearts and minds on Our Ministries. Those in and out of the home.
As a wife and potential mother in the future, it was important for me this week to focus on my role, where my ministry is, where it should be, and how this might change in the future.

{Week 7 Challenge}: Pray that God lays on our hearts people we can minister too. Then think of some practical ways that we can bless them.

{Week 7 Memory Verse}:

{Week 7 Statement}: This week I'm going to be intentionally focused on where and how I am ministering.

{Week 7 Lessons}:

invest your time and talents where they will make an eternal difference (1Peter 4: 9-10)
invest in people
use our gifts for others - not to please ourselves
my first priority for ministry is in my home (Proverbs 31:27)
be intentional about ministering in my home - attentive to their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness
devote time and energy to help those around you (1 Tim 5: 10)
do not hesitate to offer hospitality (Romans 12:13)
do not entertain, but practice hospitality
build your home on the foundation of God's love (Proverbs 14:1)
sometimes tearing down what is not God driven is necessary
guide our home with Christ as the center

When speaking ---> speak as if you are speaking the very words of God!

When serving ----> do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God will be praised through Jesus Christ!

{How to use our abilities}

as God directs
to help others
see Jesus in our service - "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me" (Matthew 25: 40)

{Characteristics of a faithful woman}

care for those around her
does good deeds
raises or helps raise children to know the love of God
shows hospitality
does humble deeds for others
is a caring ear to come too
help for those in trouble
takes time out of her day to help those around her

{How to practice true hospitality}

focus on the guests and their needs
be a place for others to stay
offer food for nourishment
be a listening ear
show genuine acceptance and support

*Hospitality is not about inviting people into our perfect homes; it is about inviting people into our imperfect hearts!*

{Characteristics a Godly home should embody}

be a sanctuary for our husbands and children
be safe from worldly seductions and temptations
where the weary find rest
where the sad find comfort
environment where character is formed
be joyful
be peaceful
be filled with love!

During this week, Adam and I took time discussing practical ways to build our home on God's foundation and maintain it with Christ as the center. We spent time answering this question: "What is driving our home?" The discuss that developed from this question was profound and enlightening for our family. I encourage you; whether married, married with kids, or single to answer this question honestly. We found it to be pivotal for our relationship and how we build our home and will continue to build our home as it grows and changes.

"What is driving your home?"

"Are you building up your home or tearing it down?

"What are some practical ways to make Jesus the center of your home?"

{Quote}

"Home is the true wife's kingdom. There, first of all places, she must be strong and beautiful. She may touch life outside in many ways, if she can do it without slighting the duties that are hers within her own doors. These are hers, and no other one's." - J.R. Miller

{Prayer}

"I pray for each of you, that you be encouraged to minister using the gifts God has given you, to serve others, please God, and grow closer to him. I pray for your homes, that you let God lead them and take time to assess what is driving your home, your schedules, your meals, your free time. I pray you grow closer to God with each passing second and that your ministries inside and outside the home are blessed and prosperous in showing and sharing love." - Amen

Blessings,

Kristin Noel

Week 6 was about children.....hope for the future!
I found this to be an enlightening week full of thoughts and ideas to store up and consider.

{Week 6 Challenge} Spend time with children around you and intentionally make a point to talk about the praise worthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.

{Week 6 Memory Verse}

{Week 6 Statement} "This week I will be intentionally focused on my example and discussions with the children in my life."

{Week 6 Lessons}:

Make God apart of your everyday life (Deut. 6:7-9)
Teach children to see God in every aspect of their life
Children have a RIGHT to knw about God. They are 1st His children! (Psalm 78: 3-4,6-7)
Tell children of God's love
Show children God's love by your actions so they will trust in Him!
Children are a blessing, not an inconvenience (Psalm 127: 3-5)
It is an honor to be asked to raise God's children
God regards children highly
Interact with children with an open heart and mind....they may have things to teach us
Show children the importance of serving rather than status (Matthew 18:5)
Do not be a stumbling block for children (Matthew 18:6)
It is our responsibility as adults/parents to share God's love with children (2 Timothy 3:15-17)
Teach children to analyze, trust, and use God's word
Seek the scriptures often to know how to do God's work

Action steps to living with God everyday and being an example for the children around us:

Know God's word - spend time in the scriptures as often as possible
Use God's word - ineract with God's word and apply it to your everyday life
Speak God's word - share God's love and forgiveness

This week I found myself focusing on these lessons in 2 ways: 1) preparing if the day comes when God calls us to have children, and 2) in the present with the children and families I interact with daily. Although it might not always be appropriate to sit down and talk about Jesus, specifically in a school setting or during therapy, but I can ALWAYS show God's love through my service and interaction with them. I found myself spending more time contemplating how I would speak to the children and how I would engage with them in a loving way to intentionally show them God's love and encourage them to trust me and therefore learn to trust God. This is a huge responsibility as a therapist and teacher, one that I do not take lightly and take even more intentionally after this week's study. I also spent a fair amount of time thinking and mostly praying about the future. Praying for God's timing, praying that I will have what it takes, that if we are called to raise children that we do it right, that we lead them to God and that we show His love. This week's recap questions Adam and I actually went through together and these are the points we came up with--->

How do we plan on incorporating God into our everyday life when/if we do have children:

Teach and model radical forgiveness
Teach and model critical thinking and analysis
Be intentional with our actions and words that they show love and forgiveness above all.
Spend time daily in God's word as a family
Spend time daily in God's word as a couple
Encourage our children to spend time and interact with God's word individually
Make child-approachable material available for our children to learn God's word
Highlight an attitude of thankfulness in our actions and words
Spend time daily in prayer as a family
Spend time daily in prayer as a couple and individually

This was an extremely informative and thought provoking week of study. One I am thankful I worked through. One final note that Adam actually mentioned while we were discussing the recap questions together. We were discussing the importance of preparing ourselves for God's calling and he said:
"Well, it's just like if you were to raise bilingual children. You can't learn the language along with them, it has to be something you already know and live." - A

This was a profound statement to me. God is a language, He is that essential and we can't begin to think that we can teach our children God if we don't already know Him. We are preparing NOW for God's calling. Thankful for my husband and thankful for this week of study!

{Prayer} "I pray for each of you, for your influence on children. I pray that you first look to God for guidance and then lead little ones. I pray your heart is open to the children around you and that you recognize that they are 1st God's children. You have been honored to raise them and influence them, they are a blessing. I pray you own this blessing and take responsibility for it by showing them the radical forgiveness and love God has for you. Amen." - K

Blessings,
Kristin Noel

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What is Driving Your Home?

Preparation for the Future