Making My Home A Haven is important to me. Sharing homemaking skills. Recipes and food. Bible Studies. This is a treasure chest of goodies. So take a seat. Have a glass of tea and enjoy. You will learn all about who I am.
The above quote pretty much sums up how we should handle everything in our lives. How we react to any given moment or action is usually how the situation gets handled. React calmly instead of panicking and you will have CONTROL over the outcome.
Go places you have never been. Ask for things that are important to you. If you don’t step up to the plate and do something,
You will never get anywhere.
You will always be stuck right where you are.
I can NOT say that I always choose what is right and what I should do. When it comes to mornings and forcing myself out of bed when Danny isn’t home, I sadly lack in this department. I usually roll over and try to shut out what is going on around me. As it gets cooler out, this problem won’t be quite so hard. I can and do get MOTIVATED During the FALL and WINTER MONTHS.
It is much easier to have a cheerful morning when I think positive when I first get up. If I can stay up and watch the SUN RISE, My whole mood is brighter. Even when I go back to bed, This mood carries me through the day. I smile as the sun rises and shines brightly, waking up the world around me. The birds start to sing. The sky clears up. The sun shines on the grass. Shines on my windows. I see it radiate throughout the house. It brights the inside of the house. Everything glows. My steps become lighter and I want to sing. To dance at this new day that I have been given.
I say this a lot. If Danny says anything positive in the morning my day is filled with JOY. I get more done and I am just happy.
Good Morning From Our Neck Of The Woods.
What kinds of color are you painting with today?
Love Sarah
Most of all you have to BE YOURSELF.
Don’t try and be like someone else.
Be Yourself.
Don’t try to copy what they do.
Be Yourself.
Do what makes you feel good.
Be Yourself.
Work on things in your life that you feel you need to but
Always be Yourself.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4
{Cue the Confetti!!!}
It’s time to begin the 11th Annual Making Your Home a Haven Bible Study! This week’s spiritual focus is to Delight in the Lord! Join me for Week 1’s video as we discuss How to Delight in the Lord —then pull out your journals and begin!
When our schedules are full and our to-do lists are overwhelming, it’s hard to stop and enjoy life to the fullest. Because of Jesus’ death on the cross and the forgiveness of our sins, we have a personal relationship with God. Not only should we delight in God as our savior and friend, but God is also a giver of good gifts, that he wants us to delight in!
So how do we delight in the Lord and the good gifts he has given us?
We must stop.
We must stop and open our eyes to the generosity of our God. When we sit still in his presence and simply enjoy the Lord, we find that our souls can be satisfied in him. He is a delight to know!
Once we are still in God’s presence and delighting in him, the fullness and richness of all God has given us, comes to life. Suddenly we see God’s hand in everything. We see God’s love in the chirping birds, a crispy apple, a hot cup of coffee, a bouquet of flowers, a hug from a friend, a beautiful sunset, a powerful storm and the changing leaves on the trees.
People who work too much, don’t delight in life. Instead of experiencing freedom in Christ, they lack the self-control and faith to simply stop, rest and delight.
Every evening the sun sets, signaling it is time to rest. And on the seventh day of creation, God rested. Rest and delight are God given, built-in needs for our souls.
So, it’s time! It’s time to take 15 minutes a day to stop and be grateful, pray, meditate and delight in the Lord and then go forward with the day, delighting in the good gifts God has given us to enjoy. Let’s get started.
Go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home. Each time the glimmer of the candle catches your eye, let it remind you to say a prayer of thanksgiving and a prayer for peace in your home.
I will be starting mine in the morning but you can start yours at dinner time or whenever is convenient for you. I will be placing mine in the kitchen – the main hub of my home. Let’s make our homes feel like a warm hug and a sweet haven all month long!
You see when we do not take the time to tend to our own souls – we have nothing left to give to others. So many times I have found myself busy and running on empty and then I snap – in a moment of frustration and weariness I say or do things that I would never do if I was more rested and connected with the Lord.
And so this month – let’s be intentional!
Begin your gratitude list now.
Pull out a pen and paper and begin. As you set your pen to the paper – wait on the Lord. Seek God and ask him to show you all the ways he has shown himself to you lately.
Give thanks to God for both the big and small blessings in your life.
They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Introducing the 11th Annual Making Your Home a Haven Bible Study
From Sarah:
FROM SARAH I WILL BE STARTING WEEK ONE TOMORROW : MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2020
This study started last week for everyone else. I had to delay starting it due to being sick. Truly sorry about that. The first part was posted early October. It Introduced The Making Your Home A Haven Study For The 11TH Year. The following are the posts that followed. Women Living Well /Good Morning Girls Check Out The Printable Book Mark And The Coloring Book For Children In The 2nd Post.
“Welcome to the 11th Annual Making Your Home a Haven Bible Study! 11 years ago, we began this series and never could I have imagined how much it would resonate with so many women around the world!
Our souls desperately need a deeper connection with God.
So many times we try to mask our struggles, pain, confusion or emptiness by keeping busy and distracted, eating food, going on vacations, seeking success or elevating certain relationships. While many of these things are blessings from God, they are not good substitutes FOR God.
This Bible Study is going to help you slow down.
It is going to force you to pause every day and enter into the presence of our Almighty God.
God’s pace is much slower than this world’s pace.
We must slow down to catch up with God.
We must create calm moments in our day because it’s in the unhurried moments, that we can clearly see and hear the voice of God.”
“Self-care is a very popular concept these days, but I believe that soul care IS self-care.
So, let’s take care of our souls by intentionally creating a physical environment, as well as a spiritual environment, in our homes that brings us closer to God. As a result, we will experience peace and a sense of calmness inside our souls, no matter what we are facing.
Each week, I will provide for you a practical challenge of something I do in my home that makes it more of a haven. I hope you will take the challenges. They do make a difference!
Each weekday, we will pause, give thanks, pray and meditate on God’s Word through SOAKing in the daily scripture reading for the day.
Also, you will find 4 videos, one per week, that correspond with the scriptures we are studying.”
All the resources are free for this study but there is an optional Study Guide available on Amazon titled: Delight in the Lord
The Study Guide is optional, as I will provide for you the daily Bible Reading Plan and many free resources each week here on the blog. BUT I highly recommend the Study Guide. It provides space for your daily gratitude list and daily prayer requests, plus a place to keep all of your Bible study reflections/SOAKs and video notes.“ https://womenlivingwell.org/2020/10/resources-for-the-delight-in-the-lord-bible-study/
Here’s the topic schedule:
Week 1: Delight
Start a daily gratitude list and delight in the Lord, the giver of good gifts.
Go buy an extra-large candle and light a candle everyday in your home. Each time the glimmer of the candle catches your eye, stop, pray and give thanks.
Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)
Week 2: Draw Near
Slow down, be still, listen, pray and commune with the God of the universe. He is near.
Keep your candle going and add to it soft music everyday in your home. Choose worship, classical or another form of peaceful music that helps you focus on the Lord.
The Lord is near. (Philippians 4:5)
Week 3: Desires
Take your desires to the Lord in prayer this week.
Keep your candle burning, the music playing and purchase a small bouquet of flowers for yourself. Let that bouquet be a daily reminder of God’s love and presence with you.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Week 4: Dependence
It takes faith to rest in the Lord and depend solely on him but he is trustworthy. Delight, draw near, and exchange his desires for yours and depend on God. He loves you so!
Rest is a need not a want. Rest is not optional and it is a blessing from the Lord. So, seek out a place of solitude to rest and pray. Get alone with God outside or in your home. Be still with God and take a much needed bubble bath, nap or still time with the Lord.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)”
From Sarah : I will write about THIS PAST WEEK IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS later on in this post. I held off starting this week even though I posted Week 1 last week.
“Welcome to week two of Quieting Your Heart for the Holidays. Here are the resources for this week…
In the guide (find link below), you’ll find that I have selected scripture to read on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. On the alternate days it’s my hope that you’ll dig a bit deeper. For example, you could… look scripture up in your favorite commentary, read it in the interlinear Bible, look up words you want to gain a deeper understanding of, and watch sermons on the topic.
WEEK AT A GLANCE – FREE Printable Below Week at a glance is a synopsis of the study guide. It can be used as a book mark for your Bible, or you might want to put it up on your fridge as a reminder of each week’s focus. I printed mine out on card stock, and I’ll be keeping it in my Bible.
WEEKLY QUESTIONS – For those who want questions for reflection or group study, I’ll have new ones each week.
BIBLE VERSE CARDS – FREE Printable Below
Each week I’ll give you seven cards. There are 30 in total. I cut mine out, hole punched them, and put them on a little binder ring so I can meditate on one scripture/day. They’re so cute. I love them! These cards are a keepsake you can use for years to come. I picked Bible verses that remind me of the REASON for the season.
PRAYER JOURNAL
You don’t need to pick up a copy of my prayer journal to do this study with us. That’s totally optional. You can use any journal you have. In fact you could use a simple piece of paper. What I encourage you to do is to use your journal to journalize daily prayers, and to give thanks for a few things each day.
You might also use the journal to diarize the holiday season, making it a keepsake you’ll want to hang on to.
THE BLOG
I’ll be posting on the topics each week on Tuesdays and Fridays. Come here to glean encouragement and share in my thoughts.”
From Sarah : I am starting this wonderful study today. I wasn’t prepared for it when Advent started last week. I could blame it on the fact we were in Plant City until Tuesday of the first week. I had plenty of time to get ready for it here. I could have shared the first week on time but I chose family (In my case , Danny) and held off. Lighting Advent candles at a B & B could have been done. We had the whole house to ourselves. I still chose not to. I wasn’t ready (in my heart ) to begin. My HEART WASN’T QUIET. I am beginning Quieting Your Heart For The Holidays today, Sunday, December 8, 2019. I will continue the 4th week after Christmas. That will work for me because I celebrate Advent / Christmas through January. I always have. I haven’t begun to get ready for Christmas this year. I still have my few Thanksgiving Knick Knacks out. Not really wanting Thanksgiving to be over. I am Still waiting for MY HEART TO QUIET.
MY HEART hasn’t been QUIET in a very long time. I was praying that our mini- vacation would bring us closer and in a way it did. Yet, NOT IN THE WAYS I NEEDED IT TO.
Dannyreally has no clue how unhappy I have been . Yes, I have tried multiple times to tell him. He shuts me down every time. He believes I should forgive him . That I should have been able to get past what happened last February. What happened long before that. He doesn’t believe he betrayed me when he was TEXTING OTHER WOMEN. SEX-TEXTING EVEN. That is wrong no matter how you look at it. He has never once said he was sorry. Even if he wasn’t wrong. That it wasn’t cheating. That it wasn’t a betrayal. Danny hurt me and continued to hurt me and THAT WAS WRONG. WORSE IT WAS CRUEL. There was no hiding it. I was confronted every day. Every time he was on his phone. All day and night. He isn’t texting ANY OF THEM NOW. NOT BECAUSE HE BELIEVES HE WAS WRONG BUT BECAUSE HE LOST INTEREST. Dannyhas women that he texts every day. He’s not SEX-TESTING them or doing anything really wrong, EXCEPT THAT IT BOTHERS ME. He texted the WHOLE TIME WE WERE IN PLANT CITY. THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE IN OUR ROOM AT THE STRAWBERRY HOUSE. I REALLY DON’T CARE THAT HE TEXTS CERTAIN WOMEN. HE HAS A LOT OF FRIENDS ONLINE. Whatbothers me is when he texts them 24/7. ESPECIALLY DURING OUR TIME TOGETHER.
We were there for 4 days. The last photo shown was at lunch our first day. We had only been in PLANT CITY an HOUR. We were unloading the car or rather I was unloading the car at the B&B when I walked in on him texting . I admit that I didn’t handle that well.it brought back TO MANY MEMORIES OF OUR LAST VISIT TO THE STRAWBERRY HOUSE WHEN HE WAS SEX-TEXTING. GRANTEDthis time the texting was a rail fan and there wasn’t anything wrong with it EXCEPT THAT HE DID IT THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE THERE. The person that he mainly texted all weekend WAS ANOTHER RAIL FAN. SHE IS ALSO IN HER 60’S. SO , IT’S NOT JEALOUSY . THERE IS NOTHING THERE. THEY HAVE BEEN “FRIENDS” ON YOUTUBE FOR A YEAR OR SO. Other than a few comments they had never really texted. Kathy was feeling sorry for herself over the HOLIDAYS. She was lonely. I get that. I WAS LONELY! I AM ALWAY LONELY WHEN DANNY IS HERE. THE ONLY THING I ASKED DANNY TO DO WHEN WE WERE ON OUR TRIP WAS NOT TEST THE WHOLE TIME. WELL, I DID ASK ONE OTHER THING……I WANTED SEX BUT MOST OF ALL I WANTED TO BE CUDDLED AT NIGHT. I WANTED US TO DO THINGS TOGETHER. I WANTED THE CLOSENESS. I NEEDED THE TOUCHING. I WANTED TO COME FIRST.
This past week IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS was NORMAL. Meaning Danny went to work. The rest of the time, EXCEPT FOR A FEW MINUTES IN THE MORNING AND MAYBE 20 MINUTES WHEN DANNY GOT HOME HE WAS IN HIS COMPUTER ROOM.
For those of You that are late getting started WITH THE HOLIDAYS this year here is :
“I don’t want to overwhelm you today, but I have a lot of resources to offer you for this study. You’ll find all of the links below the descriptions. I hope you enjoy them!
THE STUDY GUIDE – FREE Printable Below
We officially begin our study today. However, today is only the introduction. We don’t start in on the study guides or the prayer journals until Monday. I wanted to give you the resources early so you were ready to go on Monday morning.
In the guide (find link below), you’ll find that I have selected scripture to read on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. On the alternate days it’s my hope that you’ll dig a bit deeper. For example, you could… look scripture up in your favorite commentary, read it in the interlinear Bible, look up words you want to gain a deeper understanding of, and watch sermons on the topic.WEEK AT A GLANCE – FREE Printable BelowWeek at a glance is a synopsis of the study guide. It can be used as a book mark for your Bible, or you might want to put it up on your fridge as a reminder of each week’s focus. I printed mine out on card stock, and I’ll be keeping it in my Bible.
WEEKLY QUESTIONS
For those who want questions for reflection or group study, I’ll have new ones each week.
BIBLE VERSE CARDS – FREE Printable Below
Each week I’ll give you seven cards. There are 30 in total. I cut mine out, hole punched them, and put them on a little binder ring so I can meditate on one scripture/day. They’re so cute. I love them! These cards are a keepsake you can use for years to come. I picked Bible verses that remind me of the REASON for the season.
PRAYER JOURNAL
You don’t need to pick up a copy of my prayer journal to do this study with us. That’s totally optional. You can use any journal you have. In fact you could use a simple piece of paper. What I encourage you to do is to use your journal to journalize daily prayers, and to give thanks for a few things each day.
You might also use the journal to diarize the holiday season, making it a keepsake you’ll want to hang on to.
THE BLOG
I’ll be posting on the topics each week on Tuesdays and Fridays. Come here to glean encouragement and share in my thoughts.
FIND ME ON THE WEB
Look for my daily journal entries on Instagram. Here’s my URL: @timewarpwife
I don’t even think you need an Instagram account if you’re just looking. If you do have an account, then you’ll know what I mean when I say, use the hashtag #quietingyourheart
Find us in our Facebook group: Bible Journaling. I’m sure that many of the readers including myself will be sharing their journal entries.
Follow me on Facebook. Click the like button in the header. And if you’re not getting my notifications on your homepage, click the “like” button and choose “get notifications.” Facebook changed their algorithm about a year ago and started hiding the pages we like. Argh!”
From Sarah: BEFORE I CAN REALLY START ADVENT AND THIS BIBLE STUDY, I NEED TO FIND MY ADVENT CANDLES. Have a wonderful week. Happy Sunday, Love and Hugs, Sarah
How To Fast And Pray : Making Your Home A Haven Week 4 Monday Women Living Well And Good Morning Girls On Facebook. https://womenlivingwell.org/2019/11/how-to-fast-pray-making-your-home-a-haven-week-4/ From Women Living Well: “This week’s spiritual discipline is fasting and prayer. I know this is a holiday week in the states. So do not feel pressure to take this challenge this week. Instead, learn more about the power of fasting and prayer. Then, look at your calendar and ask the Lord to help you pick a day in the coming weeks or months ahead, where you can fast and pray. Planning makes all the difference! “
Good Morning Girls @GoodMorning Girls/WLW From Good Morning Girls On Facebook: “Good Morning Girls! Welcome back to Week 4 Day 1. This week is Thanksgiving week!!! What is one thing you are thankful for today?
Today we are reading Matthew 6:16-18. I have posted it below. {After you complete your reading – click like.} If you have a few extra minutes please share your insights, applications or daily SOAKs. Here are today’s verses for you to read…We look forward to fellowshipping with you!
Matthew 6:16-18
16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
ESV”
From Sarah : I admit, I am not going to do a FOOD FAST this week. I am cooking Thanksgiving Dinners for 12 families, 5 couples and a number of singles. Not sure exactly how many. The list keeps growing. Danny and I have been cooking for shut ins in our church and the local area for 12 years. Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, except for 2 years at Thanksgiving and last year at Christmas when we weren’t home. We both really enjoy it. The church provides all of the food and most of the cookware. Which means I nibble all day Monday and Tuesday cooking for the church. Then Wednesday and Thursday for us. We cook everything. Except the desserts. We try and fill as many requests as possible. We have turkey, ham, roasts and chicken for the main dishes. Different stuffings/dressings, potatoes, green bean and corn. Even Brussels sprouts this year. Cranberries and salads. Gravy. Can’t forget the gravy. We do use store bought rolls. I have lists of what each family/couple or single has requested. We really do DO OUR BEST. There are obviously many church members also cooking in their homes and at the church for this Annual Event. On Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, Danny and I head to our manager’s house for a huge PARK DINNER. Yes, I bring lots of goodies. We are having duck and OUR favorite side dishes Thanksgiving evening. Danny works Thursday and Friday. We are off Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. We are going to PLANT CITY. More on THAT SOON.
I AM THANKFUL to be able to give a little to others this time of year. I am THANKFUL to have the money for all of the foods we cherish. Never having to worry about going hungry. WE have so much to be THANKFUL FOR. I love to cook. I love to eat and believe everyone needs a special meal at least once or 2xs a year. Wish we could do it more often. I do Intermittent fasting most days. A few 24 -36 hours fasts every once in awhile. I do FAST from SOCIAL MEDIA at times. Not nearly enough. In place of FASTING this week, I am planning on taking more walks. Long walks. Really taking the time to pray as I walk. TALKING TO GOD. LISTENING. My prayer time has been longer the last few months. I am journaling more. Bible Time And Prayer Requests. I have several journals for my Bible study. Gratitude . Prayer. Bible Study in general. Have a wonderful THANKSGIVING week. May God Bless You And Keep You, Love And Hugs Sarah
The Kitchen Is Not Just For Cooking But For Connecting
From Courtney On Good Morning Girls Facebook:
NEW POST: This is our final week of the “Making Your Home a Haven” Series! This week’s challenge includes Conversation Starters for your kids and some of Women Living Well’s Favorite Recipes! Come take the challenge!!
NEXT WEEK: We will begin a special Thanksgiving Series on Wednesdays that includes keeping our candles and prayers going.
WOMEN LIVING WELL
There blog is filled with wonderful ideas for this last week. Easy family recipes. Conversation Topics for Kids.
Courtney’s Stories and Family PHOTOS
The Kitchen Is Not Just For Cooking But For Connecting
This week we are focusing on the kitchen – the heart of the home. At the bottom of this post you will find this week’s challenge, some fun conversation starters for kids and Women Living Well’s Favorite Recipes!
The kitchen is not just for cooking but for connecting.
God created taste buds, the sense of smell, and the eye that is drawn to beautiful things – to please our senses. He created crunchy green peppers, fuzzy peaches, juicy watermelons, sour lemons, and sweet potatoes! Our God is creative!
“Just as it is good to get one’s fingers into the soil and plant seeds, so it is good to get one’s fingers and fists into bread dough to knead and punch it.
There is something very positive in being involved in the creativity which is so basic to life itself.
Home-made bread, home-made cakes and pies, home-made vegetable soup from home-grown vegetables or from vegetable market purchases, home-made jams and jellies, homemade relishes and pickles—these are almost lost arts in many homes.”
I admit the above list does not represent the cooking in my home. Very rarely have I made homemade bread dough; I tend to make quick and easy recipes (I included some of Women Living Well’s favorite recipes at the end of this post).
But it’s the coming around the dinner table that blesses the souls of our families.
In Luke 11:3, Jesus said to pray,
“Give us each day our daily bread.”
In America, we are so blessed we rarely have to ask God for our daily bread, but we must remember to give thanks for our food.
Bowing our heads as a family in thankfulness to God is a gift we give our children and a memory they carry with them into adulthood.
Check Out Courtney’s Stories and Family Pictures……… Family Times – The BEST TIMES
The kitchen is not just for cooking but for connecting!
“Food cannot take care of the spiritual, psychological and emotional problems, but the feeling of being loved and cared for, the actual comfort of the beauty and flavor of food, the increase of blood sugar and physical well-being, help one to go on during the next hours better equipped to meet the problems.”
Read Women Living Well for the
Conversation Starters For Children.
This Week’s Challenge:
Keep lighting your candles and praying. Focus on the kitchen, the heart of the home and connect!
“Cook things with pleasant aromas like homemade bread, pies, and cookies. Don’t wait to have a reason to make something special – do it simply to show love to your family. Invite your kids and/or hubby to cook along side of you – make memories in the kitchen – test tasting, being creative, laughing and loving. Remember the importance of dinner time around the table as a family.
Live out the fruit of the Spirit this week by showing love, goodness and faithfulness to your family.”
From Sarah:
Make sure you check out the easy recipes on WLW.
What are meal times like for your family?
What are your conversations like during supper time?
Do YOU Pray?
Do you have a special prayer or do you take turns?
