January 11, 2006
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Living by the Word
Tonight someone at church asked me how old I was. As the words, “I’m 48 years old” came out of my mouth the realization hit me….. HEY, I’M nearly 50 years old!!! When I think back on my life it seems like just yesterday that I was a teen living in my parents home. The Word says that our lives are a vapor and boy am I seeing the truth of that more and more. James 4:14
We attended a friend’s funeral yesterday. She would have been 50 years old this month. She had been in a coma the past three years and finally went home to be with the Lord on January 5. As I sat and listened to the wonderful testimonies of her God-glorifying life, I was reminded again that only what I do in this life for Christ will be of eternal reward. Rev. 22:12
I want to live my life by God’s Word.
In order to do that I need to live on ‘purpose’ and obediently.
So, I’m continuing to evaluate what I AM/AM NOT doing each day to see if my days are lining up with the commands I see in Scripture for a godly woman. I don’t want my life to just pass each day in the trivial round of duties needing to be done without any thought as to whether I’m hitting the mark of what God has commanded for me, or at least trying to aim for it. It’s been of great value to list Scriptures, as I come across them in my daily reading, that give direction to a woman’s days and how they should be lived. I have a short list on our web page called, How a Godly Woman Should Live. The link is at the top of the Blog.
So teach us to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom. Ps 90:12
These are a few ways I am ’numbering’ my days.
1. Increase my knowledge of God’s Word.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” Col. 3:16
a. Goal: Memorization of Scripture
Application: Daily review previously memorized Scriptures that are relevant to evangelizing, living daily for the Lord and suffering.
b. Goal: Review foundational doctrinal studies.
Application: Use index cards with main doctrinal teachings and Scripture to review. Work on this with hubby.
c. Goal: Read through the Bible in a year.
Application: Use Victory Bible Reading Plan to read through the Bible in a year with my husband.
2. Housekeeping: More efficient in order to spend less time cleaning and more time serving my family and in the church and my neighborhood. 1 John 3:17, 1 Tim. 5:14, Titus 2, Gen. 2:18
a. Goal: De-clutter office (done on 1-3-06)
b. Goal: Get rid of items not used in the past few years to take to consignment shop and to give away. (complete by Feb. 6)
Application: Go through each room and closet of the house evaluating what has been used and give away what I’m not using.
c. Goal: Streamline surfaces and floor areas for easier cleaning.
Application: Watch for items that slow down dusting and vacuuming and get rid of them. Watch for ‘hot spots’ and look for a solution.
d. Goal: Continue to use Flylady’s housekeeping plan.
Application: Use the ‘zone’ time each week to do the decluttering.
3. Goal: Streamline my time.
Application:
- Respond to emails at the end of the day instead of the beginning so that I can get right to work after Bible study.
- Use early morning time till 9:00a.m to study God’s Word. (Lord willing)
- Go to town to shop every other week instead of weekly. Change grocery list to bi-weekly.
- Less phone time.
4. Goal: Save money.
Reasons to save money: 1. Live within our means (Heb. 13:5) 2. Pay off business debt. (Rom 13:8) 3. Give more to those in need.(Eph. 4:28)
Application:
a. Set thermostat on 65.
- Close up our bedroom in the evenings and set a small space heater to warm it up and use electric blankets.
- Leave sweaters in family room to ‘layer’ when we’re cold instead of turning up heat.
b. Continue to hang out clothes on drying racks. Use clothes line on sunny days.
c. “Shop at home first”.
- Make due this winter with clothes you already have.
- Use up what is in my freezer.
- Continue making a grocery list and shop only from that list.
- Continue to pray before I enter the store for the Lord’s Spirit to give self-control and contentment. Be aware of impulses and ‘draws’ of the flesh when the eyes see something they want.
- Purpose to live with less.
Well, that is the nuts and bolts of the goals I am working on right now.
Better get to work… !
P.S. The book I listed above has a lot of good ideas but is not a ‘Christian’ author so read with wisdom.
Comments (18)
I’m so glad I finally came up with a simple household schedule. It has freed me up to think about other things. Getting rid of a lot of stuff I wasn’t really using had also freed me up to think about new directions and to have the time to be available to God. Keep up the good work. I made a chicken soup tonight with some broth I had in the freezer. I just threw in a little brown rice and a bunch of veggies. It hit the spot. I think I should do this more often. It’s a good way to get those veggies and so easy.
Oh this is great! I was reading down through your list, and I started thinking that I am going to leave you a comment directing you to Flylady’s website, it sounds like you would be a wonderful FlyBaby, and the I get to 2d, and I laughed out loud! Yes, I certainly recognized Flylady’s hand. I am needing to get back inot the zone work, I fell down on that one. I could use this whole entry as my very own, I connected with everything you wrote.
Hi – be sure to check out the links. It will give you more info on the lemons – it’s more than the Vit. C. It has to do with foods being anionic and cationic. I don’t understand all that, but did understand enough in those articles to want to try it. If you are over 150 lb, you need one fresh lemon in the morning and one in the evening. If you are under 150, just use 1/2 that much. And yes, we mix it with water. Again, read over the links to see how much for what you want to do. Let me know what you think.
~E
I read your suggestion for the book and have just ordered it, online. Looks good – and I’m not a big reader. I like practical books tho. =) God bless ~E
Good post. Thanks for visiting and commenting on my site…
Hi, I’ve come across your Xanga journal and know I’ll be visiting it often. I’m trying to get my house decluttered and come up with ways to speed up cleaning. A cluttered, dirty house depresses me and I want to be able to keep it looking good without having to spend hours to get it that way. I’ve got a huge pile next to my dresser to take to the Salvation Army plus I’m planning to box up lots of books that I don’t want to get rid of and put them in our attic because they aren’t being read and are taking up lots of space I could use for other things. I’m also challenged to get back into God’s Word, something that has been hit or miss for me for quite some time. We are faithful attenders at church but don’t spend the “quiet time” at home that we should. Your site is an encouragement to me. Thank you!
I got some cauliflower today. I’m going to make a soup out of it. We are having perfect soup weather. Are you getting a lot of rain too?
Just wanted to stop by tonight and say HOWDY from Texas…I strongly believe hiding God’s Word in our hearts is very important! God bless you, dear sister! Paula Jeremiah 15:16
Jan 5 was my birthday, and a birthday of sorts for your friend too.
RYC-Well I think He like to keep us needing Him.
I liked you post. I keep working at “dejunking”…My hubby thought he would do some of the same and gave a mechanics manuel to a friend whom he thought could use it. So guess what? The man said he would maybe sell it on E bay! We could have done the same and had the cash in OUR pocket. Before you throw out too much consider turing it in cash.I’m told there are all kinds of crazy things that sell that way. The Lord’s work can use the money.
Here is the sand tart recipe you ask for. Originally from my mother in law, Minnie Hilty…
2 cups white sugar
3 cups white flour
1 1/2 cups shorting…1/2 butter and 1/2 lard ( do not substitue)
1 egg
mix together and roll out thin.Beat the white of (another) egg and brush the top of each cookie. Then sprinkle with white sugar and cinnamon. Then sprinkle with chopped peanuts. And as all old recipes go it does not give the temp or time to be in the oven. Do not over bake. They will stay white for the most part. Mom Hilty always cut hers out in a round shape. So I do the same. That seems to work the best. So good with a hot cup of tea. Happy cookie baking.
I see you are about the age of our second daughter. We have five daughers and each one has a brother.
Some very good ideas there. I may borrow a few from you to implement in my life. Thanks for sharing. You always make me look at my own life in a new way.
God bless you,
Faye
To my mama, Cretora1935… I had to laugh when you said that you have five daughters and each one has a brother! That was cute, had never heard that one before
I think I shall use that one 
We have 3 daughters and each one has a brother 
Georgene, I enjoyed reading your post, as I was reading over it, I kept thinking, this sounds like ME! I just took a bunch of stuff to the consignment shop and have another load ready. As our youngest gets older and grows out of her clothes , there is so much I can actually give my neices and nephews a chance at, for their little ones before passing it on to the second hand shops . I am working slowly at getting my house reorganized and getting rid of JUNK! I wonder sometimes if that isnt an on going thing tho
Glad you got the recipe. They ARE good!! You have an appointment for what? Sorry about the dibeties
Glad you got the recipe. They ARE good!! You have an appointment for what? Sorry about the dibeties
Yes, the story is from the book, HOLY HABITS. It is a fantastic book. The main concept is that it is God’s job to make us holy, but it our job to make it a habit to know HIM. I think you would find it is filled with great spiritual truth. Thanks for stopping by…I, too, love to read! With much love and many prayers, Paula
YEp, to know HIM personally is what it is all about! We can’t help but be transformed when we regularly position ourselves in HIS presence…Thanks for the title of that book! I will check it out! God bless you, dear sister…Paula
I am stopping by to invite you to a Womens christian blogger
the website is
http://www.xanga.com/groups/group.aspx?id=2040598
It is called “TITUS 2 WOMEN”
If you would like to come take a look and join.. God bless you..~JENNA~