31 Days of Virtue: Day 26

... to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:5

We are now to day 26. I've been writing for 26 days, and I'm getting tired. I wonder does anyone care about this subject as much as I do? Do women even care about being virtuous, or do they just go about their day trying to accomplish what is on their lists for the day? Do they not worry about what their character is like? 

Am I portraying a virtuous woman in the right way, the way the Bible describes her? A lot of what I've written about talks about a connection between a woman and how she manages her household, how she treats her husband, and how she raises her children. Is that an honest connection, or is that just my opinion? 

I'll be honest, I would love to be able to stay at home taking care of my household, my husband and, one day, our children. I would love to be able to work from home. Sometimes I almost feel like I am falling short as a wife because I am not there at our home, cleaning, washing, and cooking. But I know we cannot afford for me to stay home right now. So I go to work, thinking to myself some days that I am wasting my time when I could be home accomplishing so much more. 

I truly believe that a woman's place is at her home, especially when children are involved. God gave those children to us for us to raise, not someone else. I know some women can't stay home, but I think if a woman is able to, she needs to be home with her children as much as possible. 

Am I completely off in this way of thinking? I am asking myself right now, "Should I even publish this post? Will people think I am crazy?" 

What do you think? Should women be 'busy at home'? 

Archive of 31 Days of Virtue:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

Day 18

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

Day 22

Day 23

Day 24

Day 25

Project 31: Vigorously Working

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. Proverbs 31:17

I am definitely a schedule and list type of person. I love making lists, and I think everyone should have one, or two, or three, or.....  I just don't understand how someone can get anything done without having a list to check off.

Some of my lists:
- grocery list
- to do list
- blog idea list
- creations idea list

That's one reason I like Pinterest so much! It is like my own online lists that I can get to anywhere! It wouldn't work so well for grocery lists or to do lists, but it's great for my creations list or a wishlist! If I see a craft I would like to make, I just add it to my Pinterest 'list' or board. You can see all my boards here. If you would like an invite to Pinterest, just let me know! You can also share these lists with others. So if you've made a wishlist like I have, you can share it with family and friends, and then everyone knows what you want for your birthday or Christmas!

I think we all need lists to keep us on track and our priorities in order so that we can 'set about our work vigorously'. If we don't have lists - be they mental, handwritten, or saved on our computers - then we'll just wander around our house wondering what to do first or surf the web instead of answering important email messages. Then before you know it, we will have wasted two hours doing nothing!

So if you aren't in the habit of making lists, but want to or need to - don't fear! I have vigorously set about making you some adorably cute planners and lists! You won't be able to resist making a list or planning a schedule now!

I hope you have as much fun using them as I did making them! Here are some other great places to find lists and planners!
- AmyBayliss.com
- Time-Warp Wife
- Inspired to Action


Download the PDFs here.
The PDF of the monthly calendar and birthday calendar includes every month of the year.
The birthdays list was created to be cut apart and to be used as bookmarks somewhere.

 

Enjoy!

Being Jonah

We've all heard or read the story of Jonah and the whale. The Lord tells Jonah to go preach to the people in Ninevah. Jonah doesn't want to so he runs away. However, God stops him, and Jonah ends up in the belly of a big fish. Jonah ends up going to Ninevah, he preaches what God wants him to preach, and his mission is done. But Jonah never changed his attitude. He continued to be angry throughout his entire mission.

Have you ever felt like Jonah? Have you ever felt angry because God was telling you to do something you didn't want to do?

I have. For quite a while I have felt like this. But only recently have I been able to identify this feeling and have been able to clearly see who I have been acting like. I have been acting like Jonah. And I don't like it.

I think God must have me where I am right now for a reason. What's that reason? I don't know. How long will I be where I am? I don't know. What exactly will I be doing here? I don't know. What I do know is this deep feeling that I am here because He put me here, and I won't be leaving until He is ready for me to leave.

And like Jonah, I've done my share of running the other direction. I've tried to go somewhere else and do something else, but nothing ever happens. I'm stuck here. Then a pastor said aloud what I had been thinking to myself for a few days now: "What if you are there for a reason?" And like Jonah, I've been angry, upset, and feeling sorry for myself. But then I thought, what happened to Jonah after he completed his mission? We don't know. Throughout his entire mission, he was angry. So my best guess is that he continued to be angry even after his mission was complete. Doesn't seem like a very happy ending to me.

So here I am, ready and trying to be willing to do whatever it is the Lord wants me to do because I am tired of being angry and upset over this and I am tired of feeling sorry for myself. I want to have a happy ending when this mission is complete.

All that being said, I guess this is just a prayer request. Pray that I stop being like Jonah. Pray that I stop running away and face this mission that God has placed me in. Pray that God gives me the strength to lay my anger and self-pity at the feet of Christ each and every day.

Thank you for listening, or reading I guess I should say, and thank you for your prayers.