Home: The Overlooked Mission Field

When Kathy, Robin and I prepared for the Living a Legacy Conference, without really talking to each other about the specifics of our individual talks, we realized there was a common thread weaving it all together: the mission field of HOME.

I asked in one of my sessions, why we are so receptive, supportive and excited about foreign missions (and we should be), but the same things we praise about the foreign missionary we actually disdain in a mother who has given her life to mission work.

For example, the more a missionary suffers and sacrifices for the sake of imparting the gospel to a people group, the more we extol his work, never once thinking the hardship to be a “sign” that he is doing the wrong thing. Again, this is true and right.

But if a mother suffers (pregnancy hardship?) and sacrifices (gives up comforts to afford to be home) so she can disciple (impart the gospel to ) her children (people group) (so they can go out and plant mission fields), take meals to her neighbors, send cards of encouragement to her hurting friend, or walk with her through a difficult marriage, she is somehow wrong, wasting time and/or invoking her own (and her family’s) hardship by her “irresponsible” choices.

We’ve missed it. The examples I gave are all equally important, equally necessary and should be equally esteemed.

When our homes ceased to be “mission bases”, myriads of problems arose that have had to be solved by means never intended.

Kathy spoke in more detail in her session, “The Heart of Hospitality, How to Disciple the Nations, One Home at a Time”, but suffice it to say, that we need an awakening of the importance of home and its vitality to the gospel, our communities and our churches.

We need families in tune with the needs around them willing to minister in whatever way they are able.

Once you look, you’ll be amazed at how white unto harvest it is.

Why I’m Not Teaching My Children to Follow Their Dreams

“What if your daughter wanted to be an interior designer? Go to school and become a professional? I’m only asking what if. Would you push her to stay at home or to follow her dreams?”

I was asked this question during a topic about a woman’s calling to be a “keeper at home”.

I could write a book about all the ways a woman is free to “be all she can be” and still remain in the realm of helpmeet and keeper at home, about the glories of being freed from the slavery of someone else’s clock and schedule and agenda.

But before all of that, we must be grounded in the basic teaching of Scripture about the call of a Christian, which directly opposes the teaching of feminism.

Notice in the comment above…”follow her dreams?”

I can not find anything in Scripture that encourages us to “follow our dreams”. In fact, quite the contrary. My Bible says to “deny yourself and follow Me”. Oprah Winfrey says to “follow your dreams”.

Fundamental to all that we teach our children should be a denying of self, at all costs, and a “seeking first the kingdom of God”. Dying to live, seeking what is eternal, others before ourselves–that is the theme that weaves true Christianity. Have you read the story of Christians who lived in the catacombs? Such sacrificial living is so foreign to us we can’t even imagine it. The giving up, not only of “all our dreams”, but even the very security of life and the simple joys of daily sunshine pushed these Christians to live in unthinkable conditions. They understood “losing your life to save it”.

Now the irony is that if we desire obedience above all else, He will give us the desires of our heart. But obedience is paramount; not following my dreams.

(As an aside, since coming home to work full time for my family, my “dream” of becoming a writer has become a reality in ways I never could have planned on my own. I know He cares about our loves and gifts.)

This is why man’s wisdom is so dangerous. It is most often driven by flesh–my dreams, my goals, my ambitions, my desires. Obedience requires faith to do what I cannot understand; to believe what may not make sense.

In my flesh, it may not seem reasonable to be a keeper at home. But if the Bible says that being a keeper at home keeps the Word of God from being blasphemed, then it is not my job to question the logic. I just have to obey in faith, and watch how mysteriously wonderfully God adds “all these things” unto me.

Am I teaching my children to follow their dreams? No; I’m teaching them to follow Christ, in whom all their dreams will be fulfilled.

“For the kingdom to shine we must not seek to do great things but seek to die great deaths. We could be heroes, if just for one day.” R.C. Sproul, Jr.

Do Working Women Blaspheme God’s Word?

My friend Stacy @ Your Sacred Calling, has done a superb job of handling this issue of Titus 2.   Well worth the read.

“I’ve received questions as to what is meant in Titus 2 where Paul talks about God’s Word being blasphemed.  They wondered if working women blaspheme God’s name. First, let me say no; from what I’ve studied in the word of God, a woman who works outside of the home does not blaspheme God’s Word by doing so….

Ladies, this is the Word of God! We may be able to debate the definition of a keeper at home, but we really can’t argue about the fact that being a “homemaker” is in fact included in the list of things young women should be taught to practice. And it seems pretty clear that Paul is saying God’s Word is blasphemed in society when the church rejects or ignores the teachings of Titus 2.”

Read full article

You CAN Stay Home (Living on One Income): Part 3-Cutting the Grocery Budget

The kitchen is one of the most flexible areas of finance to a stay at home mom.  As we consider our many duties at home, we need to understand the importance of balancing resourcefulness with variety and nutrition–a task that calls for serious study and practice!

In this post I have two lists of money-saving tips and then two cost-efficient menus.

Please add any advice you may have in this area as it will benefit us to learn from each other!

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You CAN Stay Home–Living on One Income Part 2

For women already working who would like to come home, it’s always recommended that they do a financial analysis of what they are currently spending.

Calculate:

• gas money
• daycare expense
• lunch money
• snacks
• eating out money (which you always do more of because you have less time to prepare meals)
• the amount spent on convenience foods (again, due to lack of time)
• clothes you buy more of, etc.

Then add to that the money you are NOT saving by being unable to plan, prepare and bargain shop due to limited time. You may be really surprised at what working is costing you. Also consider that the income you earn is taxed; but anything you save is not. So, a penny saved is actually more than a penny earned.

Dave Ramsey suggests that you keep a detailed record of every penny spent in a month’s time. You will be shocked at how much of it “leaks” out. You can see where in your budget changes need to be made.

Then, go through your budget considering any expenses that could be reduced or eliminated. Cable, cell phones, insurance plans, groceries, utilities, etc.

I am going to be suggesting different ideas throughout these posts for saving money. Here are a few for today:

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You CAN Stay Home–Living on One Income: Part 1

Aren’t we spiritually schizophrenic, just like the psalmist, David? One minute we’re shaking our fist at God, the next, we’re repenting and praising Him for his sovereignty.

He so often echoes the cry of my heart. If you will look at the chapter just before this well-known 23rd Psalm, David is pleading, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

As we step into this exciting series about living on one income, we will often need to hold close to our hearts, the truth that the Lord is indeed sufficient.

As I was sleeping/thinking (I do the two simultaneously!) last night, I felt like I should share with you, briefly “our story”…humbling as it is, I think it might prove encouraging. Read more »