How God Enables Us to Forgive After Hardship

Hardship can either help us grow spiritually or make us bitter. What we do with difficulties in our lives is up to us, but how beautiful when we allow God to use hallways for our good!

Today, I'm excited to introduce blogger Jessica Cornell.  She's sharing how God enables us to forgive after hardship if we're willing to let the Holy Spirit work through our trials.

Hardship and Forgiveness - by Jessica Cornell

What do I know about forgiveness and hardship?  I'm only 26, after all.  What would I know about overcoming obstacles and staring fear in the face and moving past pain?

Well, my childhood, in a nutshell, would be described as lonely.  No one was ever there.  Lots of doors were shut to keep us from bothering anyone.  Separate rooms for the adults (if they were there).  My brothers, sister, and I usually had to break into our own home when we got home from school.  There was never any physical abuse, but there were lots of things I had to overcome from trying to figure things out on my own.

And over time, my heart naturally hardened from the lack of life and love I was surrounded by.  I had to become someone who didn't need anyone else to survive.

Funny enough, we grew up in church.  I always believed in God, but He always seemed so far away or like this God who demanded worship within four walls.  After Sunday, just do whatever you want.  Go ahead and judge.  Go ahead and look down on others for not following certain rules or expectations.  Go ahead and gossip.  Be sure to look nice in service.  In regular life, work as hard as you can to get ahead and leave everyone else behind.

One day, I heard a message that was different than anything else I had ever heard before.  I don't remember what was spoken.  But for the first time, my eyes were opened to how close and personal our precious Father wants to be.  For the first time, I understood how The Lord has been pursuing me from the moment I took my first breath; how He wants to walk with me through everything.

One of the most important things, I believe, that a Christ follower needs to know is that God wants to walk with you in every moment of your life.  You don't have to be a certain way for Him to love you.  You don't have to do certain things for Him to be more pleased with you.  It doesn't mean you can do whatever you want.  The key is getting to know His true nature and things will naturally fall off.

A long time ago, Jesus died on the cross and bore that pain you've been holding on to before you were even formed.  He died and took on the suffering that we really deserve, so that we can have life and peace and joy.  Death couldn't hold Him down and Scripture says that He's sitting at the right hand of the Father, praying for us, on our behalf.  He did it all for you!

It doesn't mean we won't have hardship or go through things.  But we do have a Father that can replace pain with joy and fear for peace that passes all understanding.  So when we understand the heart of the Father, we realize that whoever has caused us pain doesn't know the true nature of our God.  This is where forgiveness comes in.

If we want people to know the Lord, we have to be a mirror image of Him who forgives and loves people exactly where they are at.  This does not come easily, but God is so much bigger than we are and can guide your heart and ways.  You don't even have to do it in your own strength.  It will truly set your heart free of bitterness and pain.

There's nothing better than releasing your hardened heart to the Father.  He knows exactly what to do.  He knows exactly how to heal.  He knows exactly how to love.  And He is everything you need in every moment of your life.  Just ask Him.

Jessica Cornell is fascinated with frugal fashion and has a heart for helping women see themselves as the Lord sees them:  timeless.  You can learn more about the Father's heart for you at You Are Timeless or follow her on Instagram here!  

Linking up at Faith ‘N Friends, Grace and Truth, and Sitting Among Friends.

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When Your Salvation Story Seems Like Nothing Special

Note:  Some of the links in this post are affiliate links.  You can read my disclosure policy here.

On the surface, my testimony seems kind of uninspiring.  I grew up in a Christian home.  I was saved when I was five.  I never rebelled and wasn't a terribly difficult teenager.  I met Jon, a nice Christian young man, when I was in high school.  And I "got married and had babies in the proper order," as author Emily Freeman likes to say in her book Grace for the Good Girl.

My story doesn't have elements of an outwardly-dramatic change when I got saved.  I wasn't a hardened criminal or severely depressed or living in deplorable sin before Christ rescued me.  There wasn't a clearly-defined moment when the light suddenly went on about Christ's death and resurrection on the cross.  And while I'm thankful that I didn't have to endure extreme situations before my salvation, it does mean that I sometimes feel as though my salvation story isn't anything special.

But it is.

And if your testimony is similar to mine, maybe you need to know why our stories still echo of a wild rescue that only God could orchestrate and that no man could ever fathom in a thousand lifetimes.  Maybe you need to hear that your story is uniquely special and that God can use it mightily in another person's life.

When I was younger, I told my mom that I felt like my testimony lacked excitement.  That it seemed kind of...boring.  Unexciting.  Dull.

My mom shared a story with me that I'd never heard before.  The pastor of the church we attended at the time, along with another man from the church, went to the local prison to share their testimonies with the inmates.  Our pastor had lived a rough life before he was saved, so his testimony was one of those amazing, dramatic stories of God rescuing someone from deplorable conditions.  But one of the inmates was completely unmoved despite hearing how the Lord had miraculously rescued our pastor from his sinful life.

So, the man who had accompanied the pastor shared his testimony, too.  "I don't have anything spectacular to tell you," the man said.  "I grew up in a Christian home.  I attended church with my parents every Sunday.  And when I was little, I gave my life to Christ.  I've tried to live a Godly life ever since."

At that, the prisoner asked how to be saved.  "I've heard that God can save someone like me," he explained.  "But I needed to believe in a God who could save someone from ever becoming like me in the first place."

I loved hearing that story as a child, because it opened my eyes to the fact that God really can use anything for His purposes.  But even so, there's a bigger reason why no salvation story is ever mundane, flat, or boring:  No matter how "good" you think you are or how "decent" the world views you, you are still a sinner on a direct line to hell whose only hope of rescue is Christ's shed blood on the cross.

If your salvation story seems uninspiring, it's because you have too grand a view of yourself and too small a view of God.

That might sting a little.  It did when I realized that it was true of myself.  I thought of my self-righteousness as somehow meriting me more favor with God than someone who had lived a very wayward life.  Thus, my salvation seemed less amazing in my own eyes.  Praise the Lord, though, that He doesn't base His salvation on our works but solely on His mercy.

When it comes to God's standard, I fall just as short as anyone else.  And when I contemplate my fallenness in light of His perfectness, I begin to see just how much I needed to be saved.  I begin to understand the absolute miracle that my salvation truly is.

And suddenly, my salvation story takes on a magnificence and brilliance I've never fully grasped before.  I know yours can do the same.

Your turn:  What is your salvation story like?  Is it easy to see God's miraculous hand in your life?  If you've not placed your trust in Christ's work on the cross, I'd invite you to learn more here.

Related:  Kara shares her struggle with testimony envy.

Linking up at Faith 'N Friends, Fresh Market Friday, Grace and Truth, Moments of Hope, Under the Tree, and Sitting Among Friends.

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What's Your Inner Susan Boyle?

Some years ago, an unknown, homely spinster stepped onto the stage of Britain's Got Talent.  Her awkward personality didn't help the audience expect anything amazing from this quirky, unattractive woman.  And when she confessed her inner dream to sing like Elaine Page (please tell me I'm not the only one who had to look up Elaine Page on Youtube!), everyone laughed at her.

Until, that is, she sang her first note.

No one would have ever guessed that underneath the cheeky, socially-awkward demeanor was a voice so stunning that she would receive a standing ovation and become a world sensation.  By now, most people have at least heard the name Susan Boyle even if they've not heard her sing.  (You can see her "I Dreamed A Dream" debut here.)

I don't think it was Ms. Boyle's singing talent alone that got everyone's attention.  I think what really drew people to her was the possibility that perhaps they, too, had a dormant inner talent just waiting to bloom.

Last month, I had the amazing privilege of guest-posting for Money Saving Mom.  My article was great fun to write, and I was over the moon when she accepted it.  But what really caught my attention was one of the comments someone wrote at the end of the post.

One reader asked, "If we've paid off debt, are saving for the future, and living comfortably, what do we do next?"  It was a fantastic question.

My response to Sarah was this:  "What is your secret dream?  What is it that you really want to do but are afraid to start?  Do that."

Many of us, if not most, have a tiny dream that we'd love to do "someday."  But we laugh at ourselves for even thinking about such a silly-sounding, crazy idea.  And if we're laughing at ourselves for being so outlandish, surely everyone else would laugh at us, too, if they knew what we really dreamed about doing.

Or would they?

A more important question than asking if the world would laugh at you about your secret hope, however, would be to ask, "What if God gave me this desire?  What if He's the One prompting me?"  Because if the Lord is behind it, why are you ignoring it, squelching it, or saving it for the inevitable 'someday'?

Jon and I have a dream, too:  we want to start our own business so that he can work from home.  There's more to it than that, but that's the basic passion that the Lord has given us right now.  It sounded silly when we first said it out loud, and truthfully, it seemed impossible that we could build our own business without going into debt.

But guess what?  Today is launch day!  We built a company called Canvas Gadget that provides affordable 3D marketing (Jon's a 3D modeler, so it makes sense that we'd design something in the 3D world) to small businesses.  We couldn't be happier.  While it may or may not be the job that lets Jon work from home someday, just the fact that we finished something is completely amazing to us.

Your dream probably isn't to start an online 3D business.  It probably isn't to sing on a stage in front of thousands of people.  But I would bet that you do have a dream, and it's quite possible that it's something the Lord has been laying on your heart.

It's not silly.  It's not crazy.  And it shouldn't stay dormant.

We never would have known who Susan Boyle was if she'd' never decided to try out for a well-known talent show.  I'm sure she was nervous, but she did it anyway.  It's not always easy to step out in faith.  And just because Ms. Boyle saw immediate success doesn't mean that you and I will.  But I believe it's still worth the risk.

Your turn:  Do you have a goal or dream that you've kept to yourself?  If you're willing to share it, I'd love to hear about it!  Need help with planning out steps for that dream?  The Brilliant Business Moms group on Facebook is a great place to start!

Related:  Kali from Joy for Each Step asks, "What's Your Olympic-Sized Dream?"

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When Your Mama Heart Hurts

Three weeks ago at his endocrine appointment, I had to sit and watch as two nurses spent an agonizing 7 minutes trying to insert a blood-draw needle into Turbo's vein.  It was awful.  They took turns twisting, pinching, poking, and prodding, and all I could do was wait until they finally were able to obtain the needed blood samples.

It wasn't that they were bad at their jobs; sometimes, pediatric veins just don't cooperate right away.  I understand that.  Even so, it was almost unbearable for me to watch.  I can't even imagine what it would have been like to be him.

Watching your child go through a hallway of his own brings pain unparalleled by anything else (well, watching your spouse hurt is pretty gut-wrenching, too).  You want nothing more than to ease his pain, to take his pain yourself, to do anything to help.  And often, there's nothing that we as mothers can physically do.

What to do when your mama heart hurts

Even when we can't intervene physically when our children are going through a hardship, there's a lot spiritually that we can do.

Pray for and with your child

We can always pray, no matter what the situation.  When your child is sick or hurting, pray for him.  Pray with him.  And ask other believers to join you in prayer.

When Turbo was first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, we desperately needed prayer.  I'm not the biggest fan of social media, but I do know it can be used for good.  Even though I dislike making big announcements on Facebook without telling close family and friends something in person first, I knew I just needed people to start praying.  So, I left a status update, briefly explaining his diagnosis, and asked for prayer.

Within seconds, people started flooding my page with support, Scripture references, and notes letting me know that they were praying.  I felt a weight lifted.

Encourage your child with Scripture

Once Turbo was home from the hospital, I shared with him Psalm 39:14 - "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well."

I wanted Turbo to know that God makes no mistakes.  He still made Turbo just as He wanted even though Turbo's pancreas no longer functions the way God originally designed it to.

Scripture is an excellent source of encouragement for believers.  Even if your child is young, reading God's Word to him can be incredibly uplifting.  Our little ones need to find hope in God, too.  Scripture isn't just for adults.

Use the opportunity to share the Gospel

Can you use your child's hardship as an opportunity to either share the Gospel with him or remind him of the glories of Heaven?  Not all trials will naturally lend themselves to this kind of discussion, but many of them will.  Why not take the opportunity?

One of my little ones hasn't handled my grandpa's death very well.  Honestly, I still struggle with missing him, too.  It's opened up room for conversations about salvation, Heaven, and what the Bible teaches us about life after death.  Losing a loved one is always difficult, but it can bring about good things, too, if we look for them.

Remember that God gives grace to your child, just as He gives grace to you

One of the awful side effects of diabetes is frequent nausea.  I have an extreme phobia of all upset-stomach-related issues, so when I see my kiddo suffering from what is absolutely deplorable to me, it's really, really hard for me to watch him suffer through it.

Scripture isn't for adults only, and thankfully, neither is God's grace.  Just as God gives me grace to endure through difficulties, He gives the same needed grace to my little ones.  Turbo handles almost all of his medical issues like a champ.  That's the Lord's grace at work, and God can do the same for your child, too.

Be thankful that mercies are new every morning

I'm beyond grateful that the Lord gives us new mercy each and every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).  When we've had a bad day due to illness or hardship, it's such an encouragement to think that God is giving us new mercy.  I've had to cling to that promise over and over again, and He has always come through with just what I've needed for the day.

We can remind our children that His mercy is new every morning, too.  Together, we can have hope that the Lord will give us renewed hope, encouragement, and energyto face whatever the coming day will bring.  We are never without the Lord's care and protection.

Watching one our children hurt is one of the hardest things we have to face as parents.  When your mama heart hurts for your son or daughter, you may not be able to offer physical comfort.  But you can pray for your child, encourage him with Scripture, share the Gospel, cling to God's grace, and thank the Lord for His daily mercies.

Your turn:  What do you do when your mama heart hurts?

Note:  this post is the first in a series called "When Your Mama Heart Hurts."  You can find the other posts in the series here:

• 3 Ways to Pray When Your Mama Heart Hurts
• 6 Things to Do When Your Mama Heart Hurts
• Verses to Memorize When Your Mama Heart Hurts

When your mama heart hurts

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What Phil Robertson Taught Me About Biblical Parenting

I'm on the fence about the (in)famous hit TV show Duck Dynasty.  I love that there's a family show where every episode ends with prayer.  Even though it's touted as a Christian show, though, a lot of the content is not family friendly, in my opinion.  But despite my hesitancy to endorse it, I was surprised to find a few hidden Biblical parenting gems in this odd television series.

3 Things About Biblical Parenting that Phil Robertson Taught Me

1.  You don't have to be limited by your past failures

Many people know about Phil's rough past:  how he nearly abandoned his wife and kids in favor of drinking and homelessness.  His parenting skills were deplorable, at best.  And yet, when the Lord mercifully saved him, Phil turned his life around completely with the Holy Spirit's help and is now loved and respected by both his kids and grandkids.

This should be great news for any of us who have been less-than-stellar parents in the past.  I personally have been too critical and too apt to yell at my kids.  I haven't encouraged or praised my little ones nearly enough.  But praise the Lord, I'm seeing growth in myself as I turn over my frustration to Him and lean on the Spirit's leading.

2.  Pray in front of your kids

During one episode of Duck Dynasty, Phil goes on an outing with one of his grandsons and his grandson's girlfriend.  I don't remember much about the episode except for one part where Phil prays for his grandson's purity...right in front of his grandson.  Actually, I would have completely missed that parenting moment had Jon not mentioned, "wow, I bet that's powerful to hear your parent or grandparent praying like that right in front of you."

Maybe this isn't a new concept for you, but for me, it was huge.  Not only was Phil faithful to pray for his grandchildren, but he prayed right in front of them.  His grandson wouldn't have any misunderstandings of what was expected of his conduct, and I have a feeling that Phil's prayer would be ringing in his ear if he were ever tempted to try something that wasn't in keeping with God's view of marriage.

So, Jon and I have been making it a habit not only to pray for our kids, but to pray in front of them, too.  We'd always prayed with them - teaching them how to pray themselves - but when our kids hear us praying for them to be sensitive to the Lord's leading, to obey, and to be gracious, we hope it even further encourages our children to follow the Lord.

3.  You never know who is watching

As I mentioned, I'm not sold on the Duck Dynasty show, and I've not seen every episode.  But I happened to catch this particular one.  Phil Robertson doesn't even know I exist, and yet the Lord used him to teach me several valuable parenting lessons.  The point is, Phil wasn't aware of how far-reaching his parenting (or, in this case, grand-parenting) would be.  He was simply doing what he felt God leading him to do.

In all likelihood, we won't know the far-reaching effects of our own parenting, either.  But if we're faithful to do what the Lord has called us to do, He can use our meager attempts at obedience to reach the world for Christ.

I learned three valuable parenting lessons from Phil Robertson, of all people: not to be limited by past failures; to pray in front of our children; and to realize that we don't know who is watching.

Phil wasn't the most stellar example of a Godly husband and father, at least not in his early years.  But God used him, broken and all.  That means that the Lord can use you and me, too, no matter how many times we mess up in our parenting attempts.  He is God, and He can fix our brokenness and use it for good in our own lives, in our children's lives, and in the lives of those around us.

What Phil Robertson taught me about Biblical parenting

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Is Your Hallway Stealing Your Joy?

Note:  Some of the links in this post are affiliate links.  You can read my disclosure policy here.

Hallways.

Hardships.

Trials.

Waiting.

I've noticed that whenever I'm going through an unpleasant season, my positive outlook on life tends to dim.  But as a Christian, I should be joyful.  My sins are forgiven and I get to spend Eternity in Heaven.  And I'm commanded to rejoice always (1 Thess. 5:16).  Even so, sometimes the cares of this world seem so big that I lose sight of all my blessings.

When I take my eyes off Christ and focus on the waves instead, I instantly lose my joy.

Is your hallway stealing your joy, too?  Although this is still an area I struggle in, here are three things I'm doing to help combat the loss of joy during a hallway:

Memorize verses on joy.

The Bible is full of references to joy.  In Galatians, we learn that joy is a fruit of the Spirit, meaning that believers should be growing in joy.  1 Thessalonians 5 commands us to rejoice and to give thanks in all circumstances. These are probably the most well-known verses on joy, but have you ever gone through the Bible to see how often the words "joy," "joyful," and "rejoicing" appear?  There are hundreds of references to joy!

If you're going through a really, really hard time where your joy is severely squelched or almost nonexistent, I'd encourage you to memorize 5 verses on joy.  Read them daily.  Write them out on index cards to carry with you.  Study them.  Dwell on them.  Put them into practice.  Even if you don't feel very joyful, memorizing Scripture that talks about joy is a great first step toward cultivating joy.

James 1:2 is one of the best verses to memorize about cultivating joy during hardship.  "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."  Although it doesn't come easily to us, we can count even our trials as joy because the Holy Spirit helps us to do it.  I really should write this one on my bathroom mirror where I'll see it every day!

Keep a gratitude journal.

Although I kept journals on and off throughout grade school, I mostly jotted down random things that happened during the day.  There really wasn't much purpose or direction to my journaling other than helping me to write consistently.

More recently, I've started keeping a gratitude journal.  As the name implies, it's just a place to record things I'm grateful for.  I simply keep a daily record of one or two things I'm thankful for each morning.  Some days, it's easy to come up with numerous things to write down, but on the tough days, this practice forces me to find at least one benefit even when one isn't immediately apparent.

Another benefit to keeping a gratitude journal is that on those hard days where I don't feel very joyful, I can read through previous days and remember God's goodness toward me.  This almost always inspires me to find something good about the hard days, too.

For my gratitude journal, I simply picked up a $0.50 ruled notebook from Wal-Mart during a back-to-school sale.  If you need something prettier, you might want something like Crystal Paine's Gratitude Journal.  What you use isn't important - you just need to use it consistently.

Choose to be cheerful.

At my bridal shower a couple of months before Jon and I got married, my great aunt gave me some of the best advice I've ever received.  "There will be hard times in life," she wrote on the inside of a card.  "You may not always be happy, but you can choose to be cheerful."  I knew that my aunt had been through several devastating life experiences.  If she could choose cheerfulness, almost anyone could.

It's not easy to deliberately decide to take on a positive disposition, especially when life hurts.  But the Bible commands us to rejoice, and the Holy Spirit will enable us to obey.  If we choose to focus on the blessings instead of the brokenness, we will reap joy.  We can choose to be cheerful, but for many of us, it must be a conscious choice.  It won't happen by accident.

In this life, we will always have hallways of one sort or another.  But as we grow spiritually, we can learn to rejoice through them by keeping our eyes on Christ.  Memorizing verses on joy, keeping a gratitude journal, and choosing to be cheerful are three great ways to rejoice in the hallway.

Your turn:  What do you do to choose joy when life is hard?

Related:  Need some help managing your time while you're waiting for a hallway to end?  Subscribe below to get your copy of The Waiting Well Planner!

Christian Blogger, Are You Making These Fatal Mistakes?

Note:  Some of the links in this post are affiliate links.  You can read my disclosure policy here.

Dear Christian Blogger,

When my friend Kristin from The Peculiar Treasure shared how blogging is not just her hobby - it's her passion - she struck a chord with me.  I've fallen in love with blogging and hope to make it my long-term ministry.  It really is an amazing platform.  I mean, what else gives you the open-ended opportunity to share about your faith, strengthen other believers, and encourage people around the globe?

As much as I love this amazing thing called blogging, though, I've begun to notice the traps it creates in my life.  As my little blog grows, even slowly, I'm seeing the demands it's placing on me.  And I'll bet other bloggers are struggling with the same things.  So, I have three heart-felt questions to ask you today:

Christian blogger, are you skipping personal time with the Lord in order to meet all of your blogging obligations?

Dear sweet sister in Christ, nothing, absolutely nothing, should ever get in the way of your daily quiet time.  If you're not filling yourself with God's Word, how can you hope to edify others?  If you're not spending time in prayer, how can you encourage your readers to do so?

Spending time with our Savior must come before any blogging endeavor, no matter how noble your post topic might seem.  Ironically, we can't be good mothers without spending time in God's Word for the same reasons.  If we're not filling up on God's Word, we won't be able to fully help our little ones grow in Godliness, either.

Christian blogger, are you shortening quality time with your family due to blogging deadlines?

I hate to admit it, but I find it really easy to just tell my kiddos to play a game or watch Curious George while I finish "this last blogging task" that inevitably leads to "just one more" and then "just one more after that."  I'm finding that I need to consciously set hours - preferably when my littles are napping - to work on my blog.  Once I've used up my time, I need to be done for the day.

Because I enjoy writing so much, this is SUCH a struggle for me!  I love all things writing- and faith-related, so when I get to combine those two things with blogging, choosing to willfully set that hobby-turned-ministry aside is really, really difficult for me!

But my spark plugs need me to be mentally present, not just physically seated in the same room with them.  They need my full attention when they ask me questions and show me their accomplishments.  There can and should be time for me to work on my blog, but I have to limit it in order to be fully present for my kids.  After all, they are my greatest mission field!

Christian blogger, are you evading your Sabbath rest just so you can keep up with the social media demands that blogging brings?

It has become so, so easy today to skip God's commandment to rest.  Stores are now open on Sundays; Amazon will even deliver many items on Sundays via the United States Postal Service!  No one blinks an eye when we work on Sundays.  Not many people notice if you don't take that commanded day of rest.

But God sees.  When we honor Him by taking a day of rest once a week, He is glorified in that.  When we skip this rest, we miss out on something beautiful that God designed as a gift for our benefit.  We're stealing from ourselves a blessing that He longs for us to enjoy.

I recently began setting aside one day a week where I am completely free from my computer (including my phone).  I spend the day reading, napping, and catching up on things that I'm normally too busy to enjoy.  Sure, I'm not being productive in the sense that I'm not writing blog posts or growing my social media presence, but that day of rest has been beneficial in ways I would 't have dreamed of.

I'm able to catch up on reading that encourages my spiritual growth.  I'm catching up on physical rest that I don't get during the rest of the week.  When I return to my blog the next day, I'm more eager than ever to accomplish my tasks.  Most importantly, I'm setting an excellent example for my children to follow.

So, Christian blogger, I have to ask: are you making any of these mistakes?  If so, they may cost you much more than you ever realize right now.  I'm struggling right along with you, and I know that none of us is going to perfectly overcome these stumbling blocks all the time.

But let's work together to keep one another accountable in these areas.  Let's aim for a deeper walk with Christ by being faithful in reading the Word, giving our best time to our families, and in taking our Sabbath rest.  Let's take the blogging world by storm, knowing that we're well-rested and that we have our priorities in order!

Your turn:  What good things in your life get in the way of what's best?  What are your best strategies for overcoming them?

Bonus!!  Are you looking for an affordable, comprehensive blogging class for beginners?  If so, you'll want to check out Abby Lawson's Building A Framework course.  I've taken a few classes from Abby, and I love her heart, her authenticity, and her clarity.  Everything she does is expertly done and highly valuable.   I love that this course is affordable and geared for the beginning blogger.  Abby shares a wealth of knowledge on finding your niche, earning an income, improving your photography skills, and much more.  If your budget doesn't have a lot of wiggle room but you really want someone to walk you through the important components of blogging, this just might be the class for you!

How To Implement Biblical Parenting

How to implement Biblical parenting

"Be consistent.  Follow through.  Be diligent.  Don't give up." Most of us have probably been told one (or all!) of the above in relation to parenting.  We know we're supposed to be consistent and thorough.  But how do we go about doing it, exactly?

Even if you know what Biblical parenting is, it may not be as easy to figure out how to implement it.  It wasn't for me, anyway.  I knew that the Bible commands parents to train up their children in the admonition of the Lord, but I wasn't sure how to do that.

It took a lot of prayer, reading God's Word, talking with Jon and other mature Christian parents, and consuming Biblical parenting books before I started to truly understand how to implement Biblical parenting.  Now that I have a clearer picture of what God' Word teaches about parenting, I want to share several keys for implementing and following through with Biblical parenting.

3 keys to help you implement Biblical parenting:

• Require immediate obedience
• Require complete obedience
• Require a good attitude

"Obey right away, all the way, with a happy heart" is a popular saying among Christian parents today.  It sums up pretty well the things we hope to teach our children, and all three points come right from God's Word.

Require immediate obedience

The Lord requires immediate obedience.  We see this over and over in the Old Testament when God led His chosen people Israel to the Promised Land.  If God is that serious about immediate obedience, we as parents should be serious about it, too.  After all, our goal in Biblical parenting is to help train our children to be sensitive to the Lord's leading, so this is a perfect place to start doing just that.

Require complete obedience

Not only does God require immediate obedience, but He also expects complete obedience.  King Saul lost the kingship when he didn't fully obey God's command to put all of the Amalakites to death!  Partial obedience is disobedience, so we need to train little ones how to obey fully.

Require a good attitude

The Lord longs for us to have good attitudes.  "Rejoice always...in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thes. 5:16, 18).  Keeping a good attitude is not easy, but we are commanded to do it.  So, again, we need to train our kids to have good attitudes even when they have to do things they may not like.  Most children aren't born with a love for picking up, but we can teach them to have a good attitude even when they'd rather be doing something else.

While having well-behaved children might be a perk of Biblical parenting, it should never be the sole objective.  Does that sound weird to you?  If so, let me explain.  The greatest objective of Biblical parenting is to teach children to be sensitive to God's Word.  And the way we do that is by requiring immediate and complete obedience, coupled with a good attitude.

Teaching our kids to obey right away, all the way, and with a happy heart is a great goal, but we still haven't really addressed how to do this.  Again, there are three keys for teaching them.

3 keys to help you follow through with Biblical parenting:

• Use a motivating consequence
• Reward obedience
• Set a Godly example

Use a motivating consequence

Using a motivating consequence isn't a popular choice in today's parenting strategies.  But God's Word - specifically, Proverbs - is very clear that Biblical parenting involves consequences for actions, specifically negative correction for disobedience.  A few things I've learned over the years:  the consequence should be quick and fitting.

The goal for negative reinforcement should be immediate repentance.  Because sin and disobedience break fellowship with the Lord (this is true for adults as well as children), it also breaks fellowship with other believers.  So, when a child disobeys, he injures his relationship with God and with his parents.  Because repentance can restore those relationships, we want our kids to repent as quickly as possible.

Note:  remember that the child's disobedience, not the parents' subsequent punishment, is what breaks fellowship.  If we choose not to properly punish our children's sin, we as parents are disobeying God's direct commandment and are in sin ourselves.

Reward obedience

Rewarding obedience is the other half of using motivating consequences.  The Lord rewarded those who obeyed Him: Abraham was given the Covenant; Joshua was allowed to enter the Promised Land; and David was given the kingdom - all for their faithfulness.  When our children are obedient, we need to reward them.  Sometimes the rewards can be big, but many times just a simple hug or word of affirmation does the most good.

Set a Godly example

Above all else, the greatest thing we can do for our children is to set a Godly example for them to follow.  We need to live in such a way that our kids see us obeying the Lord right away, all the way, and with a joyful spirit.  And when we sin by not doing one of those things, our littles need to see us repenting before God.

Even though Jon and I have learned a lot about Biblical parenting and now have many years of parenting under our belts, that doesn't mean we always lead our kids in a Christ-honoring way.  We're both still very human and still very prone to our own sin natures.  My point for writing this post is NOT to say that we've got everything down perfectly or that you need to do exactly what we do in your parenting efforts.  My hope is to share with you the Biblical guidelines that we follow to offer encouragement and clarity as you raise your own little ones.

There is so much that goes into Biblical parenting, but the Bible really does give us clear-cut advice on how to raise our children in a way that pleases Him.  We are to require immediate, complete obedience and a good attitude.  We can motive our children with negative consequences, positive reward, and Godly examples to follow.

And we can do all of this with Micah 6:8 in mind: "He has shown you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"  If we keep this verse at the forefront of our minds as we parent out little ones, we can be confident that we are raising our kids the way the Lord wants us to.

How to implement Biblical parenting

It's Here: The (FREE!) Waiting Well Planner!

Do you have a hard time managing your minutes?  I certainly do.  I'll hop onto Face Book "just for a minute," and before I know it, 20 minutes or more have gone by.  When I know I need to leave for an appointment in an hour, I end up wasting most of that hour, knowing that I have to leave soon.  Both of these are prime examples of how poorly I plan my time.

I've long loved the idea of using a planner, but I haven't found one that met my specific needs.  Namely, I needed something that covered homeschooling, business, and homemaking.  More than that, I wanted a daily planner - one that gave me a fresh sheet to use each day instead of one that had the entire week squashed into a page.  But I also needed something simple; I've seen planners that cover so much that I'd get overwhelmed and just give up using it all together.

Since what I was after didn't seem to exist, I decided to create my own!  Had I known how much time and effort I'd need to put into creating even a simple planner, I might never have started this project, but now that it's complete, it feels great to have created something that will be invaluable to me.

And I'm super excited to share the new Waiting Well Planner with you!

This planner is an academic, daily time-block style planner, meaning that it runs August 2016 to July 2017 with daily pages for planning out your schedule by the hour.  Other benefits of the Waiting Well Planner include:

• Simple:  Keep track of all your basics like goal setting, menu planning, and daily events without getting overwhelmed with unnecessary fluff.
• Affordable:  It's FREE!  Printing costs are your only investment.
• Biblical:  Set spiritual growth goals in addition to academic and business goals.  Keep track of weekly Bible verses and hymns to learn.  Jot down daily gratitudes.
• Versatile:  Print the pages that work for you and skip the ones that don't.  Two options for the daily sheets make this planner easy to tailor to your needs!

If this planner sounds like it would be a blessing to you, it's yours, totally free.  Just fill in the subscription box at the end of this email or the bar at the top of my site, and I'll get it sent right over to you.  It's in a PDF format - all you have to do is print it out.  I've made it as printer-friendly as possible so that you won't spend an arm and a leg on ink.  Pop it into a binder or get it bound at Kinko's, and you'll be set for the year.

Let's make this coming school year our best yet!

Related:  Need a prettier planner or one that covers different items than mine does?  See my post here for other options (and learn about some of my struggles while composing this planner, too!).

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Are You A 10-Thousand Hour Christian?

In his book Outliers (a book I found fascinating but one that's not written from a Biblical perspective), author Malcom Gladwell explains that becoming an expert in any given field generally requires ten thousand hours of practice.  Since the book covers such areas as music, sports, and chess, I never thought about applying the "10-thousand-hour" principle to anything other than occupations and hobbies.  But when blogger Catherine Gregory built her entire platform on the premise of becoming a 10-thousand-hour mama, wheels started turning in my head.  Where else could the 10-k principle be applied?

This past July 3rd marked my 29th year as a Christian.  I did the math, and it turns out that I've been a Christ follower for over 254,000 hours.  Even if you subtract all the hours that I've slept through (since I can't really work on my faith while asleep), I've hit the prized 10-thousand-hour mark over and over and over.

I know many other Christians who have been saved for a lot longer than I have, meaning they have even more faith hours under their belts.  But there seems to be one common thread between every single believer:

I don't know any Christian who feels as though he's excelling in his faith.

Why is that?

Part of it could be that although we've been saved for years, we don't actually spend that much of our lives actively cultivating a deeper walk with Christ.  Were we to count only the hours we actually spend in prayer, Bible study, and listening to sermons, there would be far fewer believers who've hit the 10-thousand-hour mark.

More than that, though, is the fact that no matter how hard we work, how much time we devote to study and prayer, and how faithfully we attend church, there is infinitely more to learn about the Christian faith.  We could never exhaust it in ten-thousand lifetimes, let alone 10-thousand hours.

That's why the concept of an endless Eternity spent with Christ is so fascinating to me.  Once we're in Heaven with the Lord, we will have all the time in the world to study the Glory of God.

But in full disclosure, I haven't always thought that Heaven sounded amazing.  As a kid, I kind of wondered, "What will we do with all that time on our hands?"  Thankfully, my perspective on and attitude toward Heaven have changed drastically over the years as I've matured in my faith and come to a deeper understanding of God's holiness.

I may not feel like an expert Christian, but I can see the growth I've made over the years.  And I want more growth.  I would love to feel like a 10-thousand-hour Christian some day - not out of pride, but because it is the most worthwhile pursuit I could ever undertake.

With that goal in mind, I'm currently working on 5 key areas to help foster a deeper faith:

Study the Word daily.

When I was growing up, my parents had me read my Bible on a daily basis.  This became a habit for me, and I now rarely miss a day.  (On those days when I do miss, I'm very thankful for grace.)  That doesn't mean it's always easy, but if I work at it, I can stay fairly consistent.

Since the Bible is the foundation for my entire faith, starting out by reading God's Word is an excellent starting point for better spiritual growth.  If we don't know what the Bible says, how can we put it into practice?

Pray frequently.

I love to pray.  It's something simple, free, and very needed that I can do for both myself and for others.  Even though I've been faithfully praying for years, though, just recently the Lord showed me the need to pray not just for the removal of trials, but for spiritual growth as a result of those trials.  Maybe most Christians already know how important this kind of praying is, but it's new to me.

Fellowship with other believers.

The Bible clearly teaches that we are to stay in fellowship with other believers (see Hebrews 10:24-25).  When at church, we sing praises to God, hear His Word preached and taught, and find encouragement through other believers.  It's a win-win-win situation!

Another great way to be in fellowship is to find a Godly Christian older lady to mentor you.  You can think of it as "finding your Paul," as Chip Ingram puts it in Good to Great in God's Eyes.  Several years ago, a friend of mine had been encouraging me to find a mentor in my church.  I was reluctant for a while, but after her continued, gentle pushing, I asked one of our church ladies to be my mentor.  It's been excellent for my spiritual growth, because my "older lady" is willing to ask me hard questions in order to help me expand my faith.

Read solid Christian literature.

Many, many Godly people have walked before us on this journey of faith, leaving behind some fantastic Christian literature for our benefit.  As long as we're diligent to read things that are based on God's Word and that don't take liberties outside of what the Bible teaches, reading solid Christian literature can help us grow tremendously in our faith.

And it isn't only fallen heroes of the faith who have worthwhile things to say; there are many newer books available now, too, that are just as good.  Blogs, videos, and podcasts can offer other sources of Godly material, too.  Just use discernment as you go through things to make sure that everything lines up with the Bible.

Minister to unbelievers.

Ministering to unbelievers is an excellent way to actively look for ways to share the Gospel.  It puts feet to our faith.  And it provides a great reason for us to make sure we really know what God's Word says.  If we're going to be sharing the Good News with others, we first need to know what that good news is.

We also need reminders to keep ourselves humble as we pursue the world for Christ.  The Bible promises that the Gospel is going to be offensive enough just on its own.  While we can't do anything to change that, we can read Scripture and ask God's help in staying humble as we share so that our own actions don't add to that offense.

I won't ever feel like a 10-thousand-hour Christian until I reach Heaven, but I can take steps to increase my faith.  By studying God's Word, praying frequently, fellowshipping with other believers, reading good Christian literature, and ministering to unbelievers, I hope to increase my Christian walk - with the Spirit's help.

Will you join me?

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How to Handle Envy

Note:  no affiliate links appear in this post. 

In my weekly newsletter last week, I shared with my readers that I'm currently creating a simple planner for the homeschooling, work-at-home homemaker.  (Shameless plug:  if you'd like to join my newsletter, just fill out the nifty teal box at the end of this post!  I'll send you a complimentary copy of my ebook, "Hope for the Hallway" as a thank-you gift.)  While I've seen planners of all sorts - homemaking binders, business planners, and life organizers - I've not come across a single planner that covers home education, business, and homemaking.  Since it's something I desperately need, I decided it was worth the effort to create it.

It's been a huge undertaking; honestly, I had no idea when I began putting this planner together that it would require so much effort!  But now that it's almost complete, I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out.

Or, rather, I was happy with it.

This morning, after a big push to get the majority of my planner finished, another blogger sent me an email about the new Homeschool Mom Life Planner.  It's beautiful.  It combines homeschooling with homemaking.  It's inexpensive.  It's undated, making it reusable for future years.  It seemed perfect.

You see, my planner is simple.  It mostly consists of tables I created in Google docs.  Wanting to save on printing costs, I've kept the colors limited.  The decorative designs?  They're nearly obsolete, though I did include one pretty floral I got free from Canva.  Mine isn't reusable because I've had fill-in-the-date planners before, and they're incredibly time-consuming.  When I started comparing my planner to the one in my inbox, mine suddenly seemed inferior and inadequate even though I was happy with it prior to seeing the other one.

To be blunt, I felt a twinge of envy.

Have you ever felt envious of someone else?  Someone who seems to have more success than you have, someone who appears prettier than you are, or someone who comes across as having a deeper faith than yours?  What do you do when envy strikes?

I'm no expert in getting rid of envy, but this morning I did a couple of things to change my mindset and get rid of my envy.

Ask for forgiveness.

I had to pray and ask the Lord to forgive me for being envious and playing the comparison game.  Envy is one of those secret sins that is often easy to ignore.  Unless it absolutely takes over your life, it's also easy to pretend that you're immune to it.

I certainly didn't want to admit that I felt a twinge of envy.  But unless we're willing to admit to and ask forgiveness for our sin - even the hidden ones - we'll never make headway in overcoming them.

Consider the source of envy.

Envy usually stems from feelings of insecurity and dissatisfaction.  I had confidence in my planner until someone else came along with a seemingly-better version.  Suddenly, I was dissatisfied with my own efforts even though I had done my best.

Recognizing that dissatisfaction and insecurity fuel envy can help us better guard against them all.  We should be finding our satisfaction and security in the Lord alone, not in ourselves or our talents.  When we do, it won't matter that someone else can do things better than we can.

Give praise where it's due.

The Homeschool Mom Life Planner really is everything I said it was:  pretty, inexpensive, and reusable.  Although it really isn't perfect - nothing in life is! - it meets a lot of planning needs.  So I don't mind promoting it here on my blog in case it blesses any of my readers!  (And no, those aren't affiliate links; I just felt it was worth sharing!)  It is lovely, and I'm certain that it's creator Heather worked very, very hard on it.  She did a great job, and she deserves praise for her efforts.

Remember that you have your own talents to offer.

There will always be someone else more talented than we are.  But that doesn't mean we shouldn't ever try anything because someone somewhere will do it better than we can.  In fact, as Money Saving Mom is fond of saying, "There is only one you, and the world needs your voice" - or, in this case, talents.

I purposely designed my planner to use as little ink as possible to save on printing costs.  I never intended it to cover every aspect of schooling, business, and domestic responsibilities - I just wanted it to cover the most important things.  I created it to be simple.  Plus, mine covers homeschooling and business, something I don't think the Homeschool Mom Life Planner does.

The two planners offer different options since no planner will be perfect for every single person.  One isn't better than the other.  They each were created with different audiences in mind.  And I think that pleases the Lord.  He loves creativity and diversity!

I didn't wake up this morning planning to write a post on envy, but as I continue to pursue blogging, I'm learning that honesty combined with life events often create the best posts.  I'm sure this won't be the last time I'll experience envy, but if I continue to confess it, consider its source, give praise to others, and recognize the unique gifts that God has given me, I'll continue to mature in the way I handle it when it strikes.

Coming soon:  I hope to have The Waiting Well Planner available next week!  If it sounds like something you'd be interested in, be sure to check back for an update on the proposed launch day.  If you need a different planner, Ruth Soukup's Living Well Planner is now available for pre-order, and Beth Anne's Brilliant Business Planner is another great choice.  There's no one-size-fits-all planner, but there are so many excellent options that one is sure to be a good fit for you.

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Why Does Biblical Parenting Matter?

Why does Biblical parenting matter?

Note:  Some of the links in this post are affiliate links.  You can read my disclosure policy here.

I called this series "The What, How, and Why of Biblical Parenting," but in hind sight, I should have switched the how and the why.  Because really, if you don't know why you're doing something, the how doesn't matter all that much.

I've heard Biblical parenting put down over and over again.  "Experts" claim that it doesn't work, that it's archaic, that there are now better and more modern ways of child rearing.

So, why does Biblical parenting matter?

Biblical parenting matters because God's Word commands us to do it. 

That's really all there is to it.  All the child-rearing experts in the world can claim whatever they want about Biblical parenting.  If they are recommending that I do something contrary to God's Word, they are in error.  There may be newer, more appealing ways of stewarding these little charges from the Lord, but if those new ways don't align with what the Bible teaches, these ways are not for believers.

We're commanded to raise up Godly offspring.  And while we cannot save our children, we can be obedient to teach them the ways of the Lord to the best of our ability.  We can administer justice and give mercy.  We can be both firm and gentle; the two are not incompatible, as evidenced by two of God's attributes:  He is both loving and just.

I'm not necessarily against all modern-day parenting wisdom.  The loving aspect of attachment parenting is to be commended.  But it's the attachment-parenting's tendency toward indulgence that causes me to pause.  I once read about a mother who dropped everything she was doing every time her toddler wanted her attention.  Finishing a conversation with your spouse before turning your attention to your children - provided there isn't an emergency - teaches patience and respect.

Speaking softly to a child, no matter the circumstances, shows a great deal of patience on a parent's part and should be commended in most cases.  But if there is an oncoming car and my child is standing in the street, or if Turbo's blood sugar is low and he's too absentminded to get a snack, I will yell for the safety of the child.  There is no sin in those instances.  (That said, I personally yell too much when it's not needed, and it's something I'm working on.  I hope to share some of my victories and tips in upcoming post.)

Sadly, I've seen other parents - even other Christian parents - get caught up in parenting strategies that stray from what the Bible teaches.  One young mom fell in love with the idea that "there are no bad children," and another believed that we simply need to model good behavior for our kids and that they'll naturally follow suit.  Yes, we absolutely need to model Biblical behavior, and there is much to love about ourlittle ones.  But to say that a child is "born" good and that society turns him toward evil is in direct opposition of what the Bible says (Romans 3:23).

All of this confusion raises another question:  How can you be sure what the Bible really teaches about parenting?

There's really only one way to determine what is and what isn't Biblical parenting, and that's to read God's Word.  There are parenting tidbits sprinkled throughout Scripture, both about what to do and what not to do as we raise these little arrows.

Every day, as you read the Scriptures, keep a notebook and jot down every reference to parenting.  Pray about what the Lord is teaching you and begin applying it in your daily parenting attempts.  Ask the Lord how He would have you parent.  Involve your spouse as much as possible; parenting is a team effort!

Read quality parenting books written from a Biblical perspective.  If you need suggestions, I found Ginger Hubbard's Don't Make Me Count to Three and Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson to be helpful.  The Shepherding A Child's Heart series also comes highly recommended, but in complete honesty, I personally found it to be a dry read and never finished it.

It's important to Biblically parent our children, but we also need to understand why it is so important.  Since God has commanded us to this kind of parenting, we need to follow His commandment with all our heart, praying for wisdom and humility as we do so.  Don't forget that the goal of Biblical parenting is to reach our children's heart for Christ.

The Holy Spirit will equip us as believers to follow through on any task that God has given us, including the task of child rearing.  Even if you feel overwhelmed by the idea of Biblical parenting, take comfort in know that that He is equipping us to obey!

Your turn:  How do you view Biblical parenting?  What verses have been most helpful to you as you raise your little ones in light of the Gospel?

Why does Biblical parenting matter?

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10 Spiritual Lessons I Learned from Running

Note:  Some of my links are affiliate links.  You can read my disclosure policy here.

All during grade school, I ran a mile or more almost every week day.  I wasn't a good runner:  I wasn't fast, and I didn't enjoy it.  I'm sure some seasons I ran more than others, but over all, I kept at it because I knew it was good for me (well, that and the fact that my mom required it to fulfill my PE requirements).  In college I ran frequently, too, more out of the need for a study break than for anything else.

But after I got married, pregnancy, injury, and other demands got in the way of running.  I didn't run for over a decade.  In the past few weeks, though, I've started running again.  And I've been amazed at the spiritual lessons I've learned from physical exercise.

Worthwhile pursuits take effort.

Running - or any other form of exercise, for that matter - doesn't come easily to me.  I'm not a naturally-gifted athlete.  I have to work hard in order to build up even a small amount of endurance.  Most worthwhile things in life, though, are going to require serious effort.

The same is true of our spiritual lives.  If we're just haphazardly reading a few verses here and there every few days, it's likely that we won't grow much in our spiritual walk.  In order to deepen our faith, we need to make the effort to set aside time to diligently study God's Word.

Goal-setting is the key to accomplishment.

The reason I began running again is because my dad and sister want me to run a 5K fun run with them in September.  (I'm still not sure why they're called fun runs; nothing about running is enjoyable to me except for the sense of accomplishment that comes after I've gone running.)  This is a specific, time-bound goal, and it's something I can aim for.

So, too, we should be setting goals for our spiritual lives as well.  I recently checked out my library's copy of Chip Ingram's book Good to Great In God's Eyes, where the author talks about setting goals for growing our faith.  We apply goal setting to nearly every other area of our lives; why not to our spiritual growth as well?

You need accountability.

I either go running by myself after Jon gets home from work and while the kids are still napping, or I take the kids with me in the morning (big kids on bikes, Baby D in the jogging stroller).  Although trying to get everyone going in the same direction and at the same pace is a bit cumbersome, I much prefer going with the kids than on my own.  With them there to encourage me, I tend to run farther and faster while taking fewer breaks.

We need that same kind of accountability in our Christian walk.  If no one's asking how we're doing in our faith, we could easily lose heart or simply stop caring about our spiritual growth.  We need other believers to cheer us on, to keep us on track, and to confront us on our sin.  We'll never grow spiritually without the support of others.

Don't worry about what other people think.

I have a really awkward gate when I run.  I kick out my heels in a goofy way, and if I'm particularly tired, my feet will slap the pavement.  Add in my poor posture, and I look pretty silly when I run!  I was tempted not to go out running for fear of what people would think of my crazy running style, but I'm glad I didn't let that stop me.  For one thing, I wouldn't be getting into shape, and for another, I wouldn't have been able to write this post.  :)

The world is going to make fun of Christians.  We appear crazy to unbelievers.  While we should make every effort to be kind and loving toward those who find us weird or even repulsive, we shouldn't let what other people think prevent us from following Christ.

Appearances can be deceiving.

I've been following a run/walk pattern my dad told me about.  I run for about 3 minutes, then walk a minute, then run again.  The slight break that walking gives me helps me catch my breath and rest my muscles without letting my heart rate drop too drastically.  The end result is that I can go further with less injury.

What ends up happening is that I run out of our mobile home park toward the trail behind our house, run/walk along the trail, then run back into the park.  I'm sure that my neighbors all think that I'm constantly running since they see me run out and run back in.  But the truth is that I take a lot of walking breaks that they don't see.

The same thing happens in other areas of life, too.  We see the pastor who can suggest Bible passages effortlessly and the Christian lady who always smiles no matter how hard life is.  But what we don't see are the years that the pastor poured into studying God's Word or the countless hours the lady has spent on her knees asking the Lord for strength.

We should avoid the comparison game at all costs.  It's unbiblical, and nobody wins.  Be happy for those who are doing well in certain areas and ask them for advice so that you can improve in your life, too.  And always remember that the small snippets you see of someone else's life are just that - quick snapshots from a lengthy film.  They never represent the whole picture.

Sometimes you have to spit out the yucky stuff.

I don't take water with me when I run.  Because I don't like carrying things and since I don't run that far, I can get away with just drinking water before and after I exercise.  But my labored breathing combined with summer temperatures often means that my mouth dries out so much I can't swallow.  At the risk of sharing too much info, there's no way to get rid of the saliva in my mouth other than to spit it out.  It's not pretty or lady-like, but it's occasionally necessary, because if I don't get rid of it, it threatens to impede my breathing.

There will be ugly things in life.  Sometimes, there's nothing to do but spit out the sin, repent of it, and move on.  Otherwise, sin will choke us.  At best, it will hinder our spiritual lives; at worst, it will destroy us.  Just get rid of it.

Invest in the right equipment.

For the past several years, I've owned a hot-pink pair of New Balance tennis shoes that I bought on clearance.  I'm not usually picky about my shoes and just buy whatever's least expensive, but this particular brand of shoe never fit my foot well.  (I guess that's the down side to buying shoes online.)

My first few runs in those shoes were miserable.  They were old enough that there was no cushion left.  When I noticed that the insides were starting to tear, I couldn't he happier, because I finally felt that a new pair was warranted.  When my new Asics - my favorite brand of tennis shoe because they fit my feet so well - arrived, I couldn't believe how much better my running was!

While it's good to be frugal, there are times when investing in a Bible study book, online class, or running shoe is the right move.  I don't often think about investing in my spiritual growth, which is truly sad since this is the most important area of my life.  Physical exercise is good, but Spiritual exercise bears with it the weight of Eternity.

You need a day of rest.

"Why is "remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy," the one commandment we so often ignore?"  When my pastor's wife asked me this question, it got me thinking about how true it was.  While most Christians really do try to keep all of the 10 Commandments, resting one day a week is still a struggle for many of us, myself included.

It's funny, but I noticed a comparison with my running as well.  While I can get in about 4 good runs a week, I've found that taking a deliberate day off instead of constantly running back-to-back is extremely beneficial.  It lets my body recover better and helps me to stay injury-free.  The Lord certainly knew what He was doing when He made this a requirement.

Caring for one area of life often results in improvements elsewhere.

Some years ago, I was diagnosed with inflamed arteries.  Basically, one test suggested that although I was only 29 at the time, I had the arteries of a 47-year-old.  Those are not good statistics for someone under the age of 30!  Although I didn't start running right then - we soon found out that Baby D was on his way - it was one of my motivations for getting back into running now, since I'm pretty recovered from that last pregnancy.

Even though reducing that inflammation and increasing my stroke rate (the amount of blood that my heart can move in one pulse) were my main goals, I've noticed that my clothes fit more comfortably, that I have increased energy, and that I'm sleeping better, too.  Taking care of the inflammation resulted in improvement elsewhere.

So, too, when I place priority on my spiritual life, other areas of conflict often improve along with it.  Spending time with the Lord naturally helps me with patience and joy, and those things give me an improved perspective in other areas of my life.  The result is that I see improvement not only in my spiritual growth but also in my relationships and other activities.

The result is worth the effort.

Running takes hard work, work I often don't feel like doing.  But the results of improved health, greater vitality, and quality sleep are well worth it.

Putting time into my spiritual life also takes effort.  If the effort for running is worth it, then the spiritual ramifications of applying myself to my Bible study is even more so.

When I started out on my running journey, I wasn't looking for spiritual lessons.  I just wanted to get healthy.  But the Lord has miraculously arranged things so that, for Christians, our spiritual growth intersects every other aspect of our lives.  One by one, these little lessons jumped out at me as I trudged over my jogging trail.  It's beautiful to see this interweaving He orchestrates!

Related:  Tracy shares her experience with running every day for a year.

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Does God Carry Your Suitcase?

"Father, what is sex sin?" asked Corrie Ten Boom on the train one afternoon, having heard the word in a poem at school.

Instead of answering, Father handed Corrie his suitcase.  "Corrie, can you carry my suitcase for me?" He questioned.

Try as she might, little Corrie couldn't lift the heavy travel bag.  "I'm not big enough yet, Father," she admitted reluctantly.

"So it is with sex sin, Corrie.  There are some things that are too heavy for a child to carry.  For now, you must trust me to carry certain things for you, and when you are able to handle them, I will tell you about them."

Years later, after having been arrested for assisting Jews during WWII, Corrie and her father were imprisoned.  Although Corrie lived through her internment, her father died from illness after just 10 short days.  Unable at first to understand why God allowed him to die, Corrie finally decided that the Lord's reasoning was too much for her to grasp right then.  She made the choice to let God carry this "suitcase" for her.

What in your life right now is too heavy for you?  Are you leaving it in the Lord's hands, or are you constantly struggling with the weight of it yourself?  I'm definitely of the "suitcase-carrying" kind of person.  I worry and stew about things I have no control over, as if somehow my fretting is going to change the situation for the better.

I have a list of suitcases I attempt to carry:  Jon's CSF leak; Turbo's diabetes; family finances; the spark plugs' health.  I've convinced myself that worrying about these and other issues means I care more deeply about my family than I would if I weren't unduly concerned.  But if I'm honest here, carrying my own troubles is nothing more than sin, selfishness, and a lack of faith.  Calling sin by its name doesn't really leave much room for pretending that it's something else, does it?

If you're struggling with something in life, be it family issues, money woes, poor health, or lack of faith, there are three questions you should ask yourself:

• Why are you struggling with this?
• What is causing you to resist leaving it in God's capable hands?
• What can you do today to start leaving it with Him?

I don't ask myself these questions very often, but I need to start doing it regularly.  When I'm faithful to consider them, the answers are convicting.

• I struggle with things because I am a naturally-gifted worrier.  Fretting comes easily to me; I don't have to work at it, and yet it's an area where, sadly, I excel.
• Lack of trust in God's promises and faithfulness and my own selfish pride cause me to hang onto things when I should leave them fully with God.
• If I truly want to stop carrying my suitcases, I can pray, read Scripture, and ask others to keep me accountable.

Your answers may look similar to mine, or they may be completely different.  My hope is that taking the time to consider your own answers will challenge you to release your "suitcase" into the Lord's capable hands.  He'll hold it until you're ready to handle it, whether that's sometime in the coming days or not until you reach Heaven.

For many months following her arrest, Corrie had to be content knowing that the Lord would carry the suitcase of her father's death.  But as the war dragged on and the concentration camp grew more and more brutal, Corrie at last understood why God had taken her father Home.  Dying from illness had spared him from the beatings, humiliation, starvation, and shootings that took place in the men's quarters.  The Lord in His goodness had been merciful.

What about you?  Are you able to leave your worries, cares, and concerns with the Lord even if He chooses not to reveal His reasoning?  Although my heart wants to do this, my flesh is still weak.  I am constantly fighting the urge to take back my worries.  I have a feeling that this will be a life-long battle for me, but as my faith continues to grow, I hope that I will grab the suitcase handle less and less frequently.

I don't need to know all of God's reasons; I just need to trust that He will safeguard that information until it's time for Him to reveal them.

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What Do Ants Have to Do With Essential Oils?

Note:  The Hallway Initiative uses affiliate links.  Please see my disclosure policy here.

As wonderful as my new house is, there is one drawback:  a colony of grease ants has taken up residence.  Frustrated at having to clean up a mountain of ants again, I Googled how to naturally get rid of the tiny pests.  A post from Mommypotamus recommended Clove essential oil.  Elated that I actually had clove oil, I quickly dabbed some onto a cotton ball and pressed the concoction into the window crevice where the ants were gaining entrance.

Within minutes, the constant stream of critters slowed to a trickle, and by the next morning, no trace of them could be found...at the window, anyway.  The little terrors had discovered a new inlet in the dining room, so I repeated the process with the same results.

I was thrilled - not just about getting rid of some of the ant infestation, but because an essential oil remedy had actually worked.

Many friends and family members have recommended essential oils (EOs) to me over the years.  They've given me tips, advice, and recipes for using them, and although I've tried several of the suggestions, I havn't really seen an improvement in our health.  That doesn't necessarily mean there wasn't improvement, but it if there was, it wasn't tangible.

I was kind of frustrated.  I kept hearing glowing reports of how essential oils healed this malady or that virus, and as much as I love the various EO scents, I couldn't really see their benefits.

Until the ant incident, that is.

Chasing away the ants with clove oil was the first time I thought, "wow, maybe these essential oils really do work for some things!"

One thing I was especially excited about was the fact that I hadn't had to use any kind of bug spray on the ants.  At the same time, though, clove essential oil is extremely potent in its own right.  Just because something is natural does not automatically mean it is safe.  And truthfully, some of the recommendations I've been given about essential oils, such as putting a few drops into my water bottle or applying them undiluted to my skin, aren't safe practices (essential oils don't dilute in water and many of them are too strong to apply without what's known as a carrier oil).

Since many of my readers are avid essential oil users and others want to learn more about natural health and wellness, I wanted to give a quick heads-up about a new Ultimate Bundle available today through Monday, June 27th:  The Herbs and Essential Oils Super Bundle.  I love that much of this bundle will be focused on safe natural remedy practices.  Instead of writing about the bundle's contents and benefits, though, I'll let this video here do a much better job for me!

But I also have a confession to make:  I'm not planning to buy the bundle.  It isn't that I don't want to learn more about natural health; I do!  It isn't because I'm concerned about a lack of quality; Ultimate Bundles have always exceeded my expectations.  And it isn't because I don't think we'd benefit from it; I'm confident we would.  It's just that I have so many ebooks and ecourses (not all on natural health) sitting in my queue that I don't want to add even more to my list right now.  I'm trying to be a good steward not only of my finances but also of my time.

Because of my success in getting rid of ants with essential oils, I do plan to use EOs more consistently and in a wider variety of ways.  I will probably revisit the EO class from Vintage Remedies that I took a couple of years ago.  And I hope to complete enough of my current courses and ebooks that I'll have time to buy next year's Essential Oil Ultimate Bundle, assuming there will be one!

Your turn:  Are you interested in natural health?  Have you found natural remedies to be a benefit to your family?  If so, share in the comments some of your favorite natural health tips and resources!

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What Is true Biblical Parenting?

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What, exactly, is true Biblical parenting?

Even though I grew up in church, grew up reading God's Word, and grew up in a Christian home, I still had to ask myself what Biblical parenting really was.  So if you aren't quite sure of the answer, either, you're in good company.

I used to think that good parenting would simply result in good children.  I thought that if I were diligent to punish bad behavior and reward good actions, I would be following Biblical parenting guidelines and all would be well.  But I was wrong on many levels.

Biblical parenting, just like the Christian faith, is not nearly as focused on outward behavior as it is the inner attitude of the heart. 

Amazingly enough, the Scripture passage that I now lean on to guide my parenting mindset has little to do with parenting directly.

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8

This verse gives me what I refer to as the four pillars of true Biblical parenting:

• Obedience (the Lord requires it of parents)
• Justice
• Mercy
• Humility

We need each part of this verse to balance out everything else.  If we were to leave out even one part, we wouldn't be parenting our children in a God-honoring manner.  If we were to avoid the commandment all together, we would be in sin.  If we were to skip justice, sin would have free reign in our children.  Were we to be unmerciful, we would exasperate our children (see Ephesians 6:4).  If we didn't walk in humility and dependence on God for wisdom, we would believe that we were capable of saving our children, something that only Christ's work on the cross could do (John 14:6).

My mistake was in assuming that controlling my spark plugs' outward actions would govern their inward faith.  But the Bible clearly states that salvation rests solely with the Lord; it is not something that I could give my kids no matter how diligent I am to correct and encourage.  I had failed to hunger after justice; failed to desire mercy; and failed to be humble.  I was a Biblical parenting disaster waiting to happen!

What is true Biblical parenting?

Slowly, the Lord has opened my eyes to what true Biblical parenting is.  Yes, it does require correcting and rewarding outward actions, but it's ultimate goal is to reach our children's hearts for Christ.  That is the most crucial component to true Biblical parenting:  sharing the Gospel with our unsaved little sinners.  If our parenting method has any other goal than teaching our kids about Christ's death and resurrection and their need for a Savior, we have missed the point completely.

Let's aim this week to obey God's commandment to parent Biblically:  to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our Creator.

Your turn:  Do you have a Biblical understanding of what Godly parenting is?  Do you struggle with any of the pillars of true Biblical parenting: obedience, justice, mercy, or humility?  If so, know that I'm right there with you.

What is true Biblical parenting?

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The What, How, and Why of Biblical Parenting

The what, how, and why of Biblical parenting

"What are your family and friends constantly asking you about?  Start blogging about that.  Chances are good that if they want to know, your readers will, too.  And if you're being asked about it, you probably have something worth sharing."

The above advice was part of a blogging class I'm currently taking.  I thought it was fabulous advice...until I started thinking about what it is people ask me.

"What do you do when your toddler throws a tantrum?"

"How do you stop being an angry mom?"

"Your kids are so well-behaved; how do you do it?"

"Do you have any tips for potty training?"

I get these and other questions frequently.  Maybe it's because I have a lot of children.  Maybe I just look like someone who would know the answers.  Whatever the reason, people often ask me for parenting advice.  And that's the problem:  for a number of reasons, I don't actually enjoy giving parenting advice.

• First, I don't feel exceptionally qualified to give it.  I haven't found any magical formula for child-rearing that I'm dying to share with the world.  I'm just a struggling mama like everyone else around me.
• Second, I'm not sure people really want to hear what I have to say about parenting.  I parent from a Biblical perspective, and unless those asking are of the same faith as I am, my methods will probably come across sounding old-fashioned.
• Third, my oldest is 11.  I haven't even hit the teenage years yet.  I know nothing of the growing independence and mood swings commonly attributed to the adolescent years (although I'm actually looking forward to having teenagers in the house!).
• Fourth, none of my spark plugs currently has any learning disabilities, mental health hindrances, or behavioral issues.  In other words, I don't have a lot of wide-range parenting tenure.

But.

What if this is the Lord prompting me to share what little I do know?  What if, in being willing to share my thoughts about Biblical parenting, I can help even one struggling mother?  What if my words can help stop even one parenting battle from taking place?  Wouldn't it be worth it?

Yes, it would.

And so, with that single thought in mind, I'm stepping out in faith to put together a small series on Biblical parenting in the hopes that it will encourage just one mama in her parenting efforts.  Maybe that mama is you.

For the next few weeks, I'll be sharing about what Biblical parenting is, why it's as important to Christian families today as it was when the Bible was written several thousand years ago, and how we can implement it in our households.

The what, how, and why of Biblical parenting

Before I wrap up this introductory post, though, there are a few things I'd like to share with you.  The first is about my kids being well-behaved.  This, on the days when it's actually true (we have bad days just like everyone else!), is due solely to God's grace.  I have no parenting wisdom apart from what the Bible teaches and the Holy Spirit gives.  I can't emphasize this point enough.

The second, on a lighter note, is that I won't be sharing any potty-training tips for now, no matter how many mamas ask me for advice on this topic!  That's an area utterly beyond my scope of knowledge.  I don't even know how my older three got trained.  I'm still struggling with training my youngest.  If any of you have suggestions, I'd welcome them!

With that off of my chest, let's study the what, how, and why of Biblical parenting together.

Your turn:  What are your biggest parenting struggles?  What aspect of motherhood makes you often think, "I wish there were a manual on this topic"?  Share in the comments or contact me.  I probably won't have the answer, but I'd love to pray along with you as you seek the Lord in this matter!  And if you're past the child-rearing years, what advice would you give those of us who are still in the trenches?

The what, how, and why of Biblical parenting

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3 Action Steps You Must Take During A Financial Crisis

3 action steps you must take during a financial crisis

Job loss.

Medical bills.

Unforeseen illness.

All of these things have a common thread that makes my heart jump into my throat:  the potential to create a financial crisis.

Money woes cause me to panic more quickly than anything else in life (with the possible exception of illness).  The combination of an empty bank account and an impending bill is enough to cause my heart to pound in anxiety.  I'm guessing I'm not alone when it comes to being terrified by money issues.

Jon and I have gone through layoffs, unemployment, and under-employment, all of which bring various levels of fear.  I wish I could tell you that I've handled each situation with grace and poise.  I wish I could say that I fully trusted in God's provision.  I wish I could claim to have learned to put my complete faith in the Lord as a result of these trials.

But I can't.

I am very human, and lack of money quickly reveals how fickle I am.  So, while I can't say, "here are 3 things I learned as a result of an empty checking account," I can offer three things I wish I had done when each of those trials came and what I hope I will remember to do when the next wave of financial turbulence hits.

Remember that God owns it all

One of the biggest mistakes I've made during financial crises is forgetting that the money was never mine to begin with.  How much better would it have been if I'd stopped to consider that it all belonged to God, that I was merely a steward of what He'd given me, and that He was free to move His funds around as He saw fit?

If you're facing a difficult financial situation, stop to consider that the Lord owns everything.  The only way to gracefully endure fiscal hardship is to view "your" money as it actually is:  God's.

View A Financial Crisis As An Opportunity to See God Work

Instead of freaking out about your financial crisis like I've done, try to calmly view each money crunch as an opportunity to see God work.  Everything God does is for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28, Isaiah 48:10).  I have a very hard time seeing (at first) how God could be glorified and how things are for my good.  I tend to see the crisis and not Christ. 

It might not be immediately obvious to us how He is being glorified or how we're benefiting from a situation, but since the Bible promises us these things, we can trust that they're happening.  If you can see a tough situation as a front-row seat to God's handiwork, it will be much easier to accept the cup that the Lord has given you.

Write Down Verses on God's Promise to Provide

God has graciously promised to provide for all our needs (see Philippians 4:19), but it's easy to get so caught up in the fear of the situation that we forget those promises.  Grab your Bible, a pen, and a sheet of paper and begin jotting down verses about the Lord's provision.  Don't forget Old Testament stories of God's protection and provision.  Notice how, over and over again, the Lord graciously cares for His people.

God doesn't promise to provide in the way we think or expect

A word of caution is in order here, however:  God definitely promises to provide, and He has proven His provision in Scripture over and over again.  But He doesn't promise to provide in the way we think or expect Him to, nor does He act according to our timetable.  He also doesn't say that we won't suffer while we're waiting for Him to act (otherwise, this blog would be obsolete!).  The Bible promises us that suffering will come (James 1).

Remembering that God owns it all, viewing a financial crisis as an opportunity to see God work, and writing down God's promises to provide won't make your current trial go away.  But doing these things will give you a better mindset for handling the situation in a way that brings honor to the Lord.  There often isn't much you can do during a financial crisis other than waiting, but these three things are action steps that you can do today, right now.

Let's praise Him while we wait!

Your turn:  Have you gone through financial hardships?  What has been the biggest help to you?  Share with us in the comments!

grace and truth linkup

3 action steps you must take during a financial crisis

When It Isn't Going to Be Okay

"Turbo has Type 1 Diabetes."

Those words, spoken to me three years ago today by an Urgent Care doctor, were some of the hardest I've ever had to swallow.

I didn't know anything about diabetes.  I didn't fully understand the impact of the doctor's words.  I was overwhelmed.

"He's going to be taken by ambulance to Children's Hospital.  But he's going to be okay."

Maybe you've received devastating news, too.  Maybe you got a phone call.  Perhaps you received a letter or email.

And maybe for you, it isn't going to be okay, at least not this side of Heaven.

A friend's little boy was diagnosed with a genetic disorder so rare it doesn't even have a name yet.  Another friend's infant has a suppressed immune system that will likely give out on him completely at some point.  Cancer recently took the lives of two friends, and others are still in the middle of their cancer battles.

Sometimes, things aren't going to be okay.

What then?  How does one cope when there is no reassuring doctor there to comfort you with the words, "It's going to be okay," like I had that day at Urgent Care three years ago?

That's the beauty of the Gospel.  No matter how difficult things are here on Earth, for the believer, there is the hope of Heaven.  Even if we lose all we hold dear here on Earth - our health, our loved ones, our homes, our own lives - Heaven will meet us and Eternity with Christ will wipe away all of our tears (see Isaiah 25:8).

One of my favorite books in the Bible is, oddly enough, Revelation.  Although it is full of end-time descriptions that don't always make sense yet, the overarching theme of God's ultimate mercy despite intense suffering is clear.  If it's been a while since you last read through it (or if you've never read it before), I would highly encourage you to do so.  Grab a pen, and as you read, write down all the references to God's salvation, mercy, grace, and final triumph over evil.  Then choose two or three of your very favorites to memorize and meditate on while you're in the middle of your struggle.

My favorite verse from Revelation is in chapter 12, verse 6.  It reads, "Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days" (emphasis added).  I've been through some very difficult circumstances, but in each of them, I definitely see that God perfectly prepared me for each of them by providing a place of provision.

The book of Revelation clearly states that times of hardship and anguish are coming.  But more importantly, it is a beautiful reminder that the Lord will triumph over evil; He will bind Satan forever; and we will spend all Eternity with Him free from sin, sadness, and death.

When you get news you never wanted to hear, when you receive a diagnosis you never anticipated, when it isn't going to be okay, put your trust in the Only One who is trustworthy.  Find hope in the fact that the Lord will prevail once and for all.  Rest in the peace of knowing that even though it's not okay now, someday, it will be.

What greater hope is there than spending Forever in the presence of our Heavenly Father?

4 Housekeeping Hacks for the Hopeless Homemaker

Note:  The Hallway Initiative uses affiliate links.  Please see my disclosure policy here.

I'm a hopeless homemaker.

Really.  A few months after Jon and I got married, my mom once came over to help me clean up.  I was sick and exhausted from my first pregnancy and welcomed the help.  Here's the embarrassingly-honest truth:

We spent three hours scrubbing moldy dishes.

Yep.

The air-born mold in our house, combined with our lack of automatic dishwasher and my fatigue, resulted in an appalling stack of gross plates, cups, and silverware.  To complicate things further, our house had the world's smallest water heater, so every 20 minutes or so, we had to stop scrubbing to boil more water because there was no hot water left in the tap.  It was slow going, but with the two of us (mostly Mom; I was tired and had to sat down a lot of the time), we finally cleaned up the whole mess.

From this experience, I realized that I'm not a natural homemaker.  In my head, I'm the neatest, most organized person I know, but in actuality, my home is often a complete disaster.  I used to cringe when people popped in unannounced, not because I didn't dearly want to spend time with them, but because I was embarrassed about the condition of my house.

I am, by nature, a germ freak, so a dirty home really bothered me.  I once thought that my dislike of germs would help me keep my house clean, but I finally realized that it was my germophobia that actually prevented me from cleaning.  I couldn't stand touching the dirty sink or bathtub to clean them.  So, as hard as I tried to keep things tidy, I just couldn't seem to keep up with any sort of housekeeping.

I finally stumbled - through trial and error - onto four tips that helped me improve my homemaking skills.  If you're a struggling homemaker like I was (and still am!), maybe these suggestions will help you as well.

Just do it.

As with most things in life, there isn't any magical way to get housecleaning done aside from just doing it.  This might not seem like a big help, but I came to the conclusion that my germophobia was actually hindering my house cleaning, not helping it.  I desperately wanted a more orderly, clean home, but I couldn't bring myself to clean out the kitchen sink or the scummy bathtub because they grossed me out.  Eventually I realized that in order to make progress, I was just going to have to roll up my sleeves, hold my breath, and get the cleaning done no matter how disgusting it seemed to me.

Find a method that works for you.

Flylady.

Sidetracked Home Executives.

KonMari.

When it comes to methods for keeping your home livable, the possibilities, styles, and systems are endless.  If you need more options, try the Kamikaze Cleaning ebook, Motivated Mom's Chore Chart, or ASlobComesClean.com (more on these last two in a moment).  Each of these methods has its benefits and drawbacks.

One homeschool family I knew of spent Monday through Thursday focusing on their written studies and saved Fridays for their deep-cleaning day, opting to do audio school while they worked.  I'd love to incorporate this more into my own homeschool routine this Fall, but right now, taking bits and pieces of each of the above-mentioned methods is what's suiting us for the moment.

It really doesn't matter what method you use as long as it works for you.  If you're not sure where to start, just pick one to implement and use it until it no longer gets the job done.  Then move on to the second suggestion on your list, and so on.  Eventually, you'll create a method all your own that works for your needs.

Get the right equipment.

For years, it never dawned on me to invest in a $1.99 pair of rubber gloves to use when cleaning items that I didn't want to touch (want to clean a toilet after potty-training a toddler, anyone?  Ick!).  A friend also introduced me to Norwex cleaning cloths that clean with just water.  She showed me how to fold it into 4ths so that I could move to a fresh part of the cloth every few minutes.  I realized that by doing this, I could always keep a clean rag surface for my hand, too.  (You don't need Norwex to do this; I can do it with any kind of cleaning rag now.)

It doesn't matter what kind of cleaning items you use, but you do need the right equipment for the job.  I've used Norwex, Ecloth, and even these inexpensive Amazon microfiber cloths all with great results.  Other homemakers I know have a little caddy of cleaning supplies that they can carry back and forth from the bathroom to the kitchen or anywhere else in the house.  Pick the equipment that's most suited to your needs and cleaning style.

Consider purchasing the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle.

(Note:  the 2016 Ultimate Homemaking Bundle has come and gone, but I'm guessing that there will be another Ultimate Homemaking Bundle next year with all-new resources.)

Have you heard of the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle?  This is a phenomenal group of over 90 ebooks, ecourses, and bonuses designed to help hopeless homemakers like me.  I almost skipped the Homemaking Bundle this year, but I'm so glad I went ahead and purchased it.  With ebooks and ecourses on Budgeting, Motherhood, Marriage, Self-Care, Food Prep & Recipes, Faith, and more, this year's Ultimate Homemaking Bundle is designed to offer wisdom on nearly every aspect of homemaking.  As Ultimate Bundle founder Stephanie Langford says, "We can't help you clean up throwup, but we can encourage and cheer you along the way!"

I'm most looking forward to the "Organization and Routines" section of this amazing resource.  It comes with several planners, including the above-mentioned "Motivated Moms Chore Planner" and "Teaching Kids to Clean!" ebook from ASlobComesClean.com.  And although I didn't realize it until I'd bought the Bundle, Money Saving Mom's new ecourse, "Make Over Your Calendar," is also included!  I'm so glad I hadn't purchased it before now.

The entire Bundle (over 90 Homemaking resources!) is on sale for just two days - today and tomorrow - for $29.97.  The total worth of the Bundle, were you to purchase each item separately, would be over $1,000 with $249.99 in bonuses!

If the 2016 Ultimate Homemaking Bundle sounds like it might be a good fit for you, you can click the blue button below to learn more.  While I definitely believe that this Bundle is well worth it's cost, I certainly don't want to encourage anyone to buy it if it's not going to be a good fit for your interests or circumstances.  If it's not your thing, if finances are tight, or if you prefer physical products to digital books and courses, feel free to skip to the end of this post.

Diving in and doing housework, finding a workable method, getting the right equipment, and grabbing the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle have all helped me to be a not-so hopeless homemaker.  I still have a long way to go before homemaking routines really stick, but at least I no longer have to battle moldy dishes for three hours and can better enjoy drop-in company.

And since God's Word commands us to be homemakers as part of our Christian witness (Titus 2:5), I know the Lord is pleased with any attempt at improving the state of our homes.  We won't attain perfection this side of Heaven, but as The Nester says so well, "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful."

Let's work together to make our homes beautiful!

Your turn:  Are you a hopeless homemaker, or is this an area where you excel?  If you struggle, what's been your biggest help?  If you're an excellent homemaker, what tips can you offer for those of us who struggle?  Share in the comments!