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Thankful Homemaker

Gospel-Driven Encouragement for Homemakers

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Homemaking 101 Series: Encouragement Along the Way

by Marci Ferrell
Cleaning Encouragement Homemaking Homemaking 101 Series

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I’d love to help you simplify your meal planning. Check out my new menu planning course here.

As Christians, our desire is not to have a perfect family or home as a trophy for all to see but to point others to Jesus Christ. @mferrell

 

Sometimes when we're reading a Homemaking Series, we might think the ladies who write these have every part of their lives together.  Let me be the first to tell you; I don't have it all together.

Some people may say I'm hypocritical by writing about something I haven't mastered in my own life, but my reason for writing is because it is an area the Lord continues to grow me in. If bloggers only wrote about areas they have mastered, then there probably wouldn't be too many blog posts.  

I can assure you no one has a perfect marriage, family or home while living on this fallen earth but that doesn't mean we just throw in the towel and stop trying.  I am reminded in God's Word to persevere and work heartily as unto the Lord, and this includes my normal day to day life of caring for a family and home.

For me, this is the majority of my time taking care of my family and home.  It doesn't mean I don't have ministry needs outside my home it is just the reality that home is where most of my time is spent.

When I write a blog post, it is an encouragement to me to press on and strive towards Christ-likeness with the work of the indwelling Spirit within me.  While I'm on in this earth, in this body of flesh, I will never reach an area of perfection in anything.  My encouragement as a wife, mother and blogger is to continue to encourage us to press onward towards the goal and not give up because we don't see the results we would like to.

“God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.” ~John Piper

My heart's desire is to love my husband and family well.  To manage my home well.  To be kindhearted sharing the love of Christ always.  To respond with an attitude that is honoring to the Lord.  To make good use of the time the Lord has given me.  To be hospitable and meek in spirit.  The reality is – I fail daily.

My greatest comfort in this world is that Jesus Christ is enough.  He is enough on the days when everything goes wrong and on the days when it seems that everything is falling apart.  There is no greater news than I have been forgiven.  I am a child of the King, my sins have been forgiven, and heaven is my eternal home.  This great news keeps my eyes on the eternal and reminds me of the important calling I have from the Lord as a wife and mother.  


Let me share with you some of my weaknesses and alongside them are the blog posts I've written that speak truth into my life:

I don't get dressed every morning, and I sleep in sometimes – Homemaking 101 Series: Getting Dressed

My response to my husband is not always kind – Are You Kind to Your Husband?

Some weeks go by, and I have failed to menu plan – What's for Dinner? (Actually, that may be the question that night.)

I don't weekly bless my home every week – Weekly Home Blessing

I am created to be a helper to my husband – that doesn't happen so well every day – 18 Ways to Be Your Husband's Helper.

Some days I have been to “busy” to pray – Busyness is not Godliness

Many a Sunday we are rushing out the door in the morning – Preparing Our Families for Sunday Morning Worship

I struggle with the sin of comparison.  I need this reminder daily – The “If Only” Syndrome

I don't always resist gossip – How to Resist Gossip

This list could go on for quite awhile, but my point I want to make is I write because these are areas the Lord continues to challenge and grow me in.  The Lord is continuing to change me as I spend time with Him in His Word.  He works in me as I deal with the everyday trials and difficulties of life in this fallen world.  He works in me as I celebrate the many joys of this beautiful life He has gifted us with.

I share in this little community not to have you think I have it all together but to remind you that you are not alone in your struggles.

 Even better, as in the spirit of Titus 2, I want to be an encouragement for us to grow in the areas of loving our husbands and children, being keepers of our homes, being self-controlled and submissive to our husbands so God's Word will not be reviled together.

Let's keep striving and working and encouraging each other to live lives that bring honor and glory to the Lord.  As Christians, our desire is not to have a perfect family or home as a trophy for all to see but to point others to Jesus Christ.  We do that by living lives that honor Him and sharing the truth of His Gospel to a lost world around us.  He doesn't leave us alone – He is with us always!

As Christians, our desire is not to have a perfect family or home as a trophy for all to see but to point others to Jesus Christ. Click to Tweet
Share your struggles with each other but don't leave each other there.  Spur one another on towards love and good deeds.  Encourage your sisters in the Lord to live by and abide in His Word.  

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

 

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.”
~Elisabeth Elliot

Related Resources:

Homemaking 101 Series Posts 

Podcast Ep 6: What Does Self-Discipline Look Like in Our Homes?

Treasuring Christ When Your Hands are Full: Gospel Meditations for Busy Moms by Gloria Furman

 

 

Related posts:

  1. Homemaking Binder Series: Detailed Cleaning Checklists for Living Room & Family Room
  2. Homemaking 101 Series: Simple Ways to Get a Jump Start On Your Day
  3. Homemaking 101 Series: Getting Dressed
  4. Homemaking 101 Series: The Routines of the Day


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Comments

  1. Mary Woods says

    at

    Marci, I just subscribed to your podcast about a week ago because I was looking for something to listen to while I cleaned the house during my three year olds nap time. I was originally looking for something that would give me tips, help with a routine and make my work easier to accomplish with a very active toddler under foot. I got way more and I’m so glad I stumbled on to your podcast which led me to your website!

    One thing that really spoke to me was how you said in your thirties you went from being atheist to Christian. This struck me! I’m 33, I have always considered myself an atheist except for the past year something has changed and I’m not sure what. How did you come to realize you’re a Christian, what changed for you? How did understand fully what your spiritual path was meant to be?

    • Marci Ferrell says

      at

      Mary, I’m so glad you’re here and thank you for taking the time to comment. I love your question about my Christianity. I knew and heard things about God but I had no interest in spiritual things. As I look back now, I can see the Lord was drawing me in various ways and I had just attended a church service with a friend and fully heard the truth about Jesus and Who He is – I realized when I came home that I didn’t know or really wasn’t known by Jesus.

      God opened my eyes to understand and believe the truth about Jesus – that He is God in the flesh. I for the first time saw myself as a sinner – I would have before that never thought of myself that way – I just would have thought I was a pretty good person but with God being the standard I knew I fell short and couldn’t get to heaven by my good works. It was clear at that moment that I needed a Saviour and Jesus’ words that He is the way, the truth and the life became clear to me. I wanted to tell others, I wanted to read the Bible, I just wanted to know everything about Him.

      Mary, I encourage you to pray and ask the Lord to reveal Jesus to you. Spend time in God’s Word and read through the book of John. You can email me anytime at thankfulhomemaker@gmail.com if you want to chat some more too. If you’d like to chat by phone let me know that in your email. Praying for you my new friend.

  2. Annie says

    at

    I love this post! Thanks for keeping it real! I can totally relate!! You’ve gained a subscriber. 🙂 I have a faith-based blog as well. It’s dailyhisdisciple.com, I would love for you to check it out!

    • Marci Ferrell says

      at

      Thank you so much Annie. I’m going to take a peek at your blog today. Excited for you. I’m just seeing your email this morning too and will get back to you this week. So thankful to have you as part of my little community xo

  3. feedmemama says

    at

    Thank you for sharing, Marci! your words are so refreshing and challenging. As bloggers, we must be an honest light in the world, and not provide a phony perfect life up on a pedestal, and you nailed it! Grateful for your wisdom 🙂 -Karli

  4. Linda says

    at

    I always stick with Gal. 6:9 never grow tired of doing good. It’s easy to get weary when serving others and always doing. So I think rereading the story of mary and martha and our purpose here helps me refocus and press on towards the proper goal thought Christ Jesus.

  5. Ashley says

    at

    Wonderful… thank you. So encouraging. I love that quote by Elisabeth Elliot! Going to read this post again tomorrow!

Welcome to Thankful Homemaker

So thankful you’ve stopped by for a visit. Please grab a cup of coffee or tea and sit a bit. I hope to remind you that contentment in our role as homemakers begins with finding our satisfaction in Christ.

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thankfulhomemaker

Marci Ferrell
Charles Spurgeon on gentleness and respect:⁣ Ha Charles Spurgeon on  gentleness and respect:⁣
Have your doctrinal views, and all your knowledge of Christ, packed away in a handy form so that, when people want to know what you believe, you can tell them. If they wish to know why you believe that you are saved, have your answer all ready in a few plain, simple sentences; and in the gentlest and most modest spirit make your confession of faith to the praise and glory of God. Who knows but what such good seed will bring forth an abundant harvest?⁣
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#spurgeon #spurgeonquotes #apologetics #
We have a generation of people who think they can We have a generation of people who think they can stand before the judgment seat of God despite their sins. ⁣
~ R.C. Sproul
When we start our mornings with purpose, it seems When we start our mornings with purpose, it seems to help in the productivity of our day.  I always say if I get nothing else done the rest of the day because it didn't go as I planned, but I got to my morning routine, I already accomplished quite a bit.⁣
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Come watch the video at the link in my profile @thankfulomemaker - click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image.
"Reading the Bible in a year? Good. But don't just "Reading the Bible in a year? Good. But don't just read it, study it, and do so not just to brag about it but for your good and God's glory."⁣
~ Burk Parsons⁣
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Link to EP 95 Developing a Daily Bible Reading Habit in my profile @thankfulhomemaker - click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image 😍🎧
Do you ever find yourself flitting from task to ta Do you ever find yourself flitting from task to task and at the end of the day realizing you didn't finish any of them? Do you have trouble staying focused and on task? ⁣
⁣
A tool that has helped me immensely over the years to stay on tasks, whether it's household chores, reading, social media, blog work, paying bills, and a host of other items, is just a simple household timer.⁣
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It has helped me realize that household chores that I think take FOREVER 😂may not take much longer than 5-10 minutes.⁣
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Link to the podcast in my profile @thankfulhomemaker - click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image 🎧❤.⁣
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#productivity #timer #kitchentimer #stayontask #focused #staying focused
“The simple truth – every day is precious. Whe “The simple truth – every day is precious. When it's gone, it never comes back to you.”⁣
~ Emilie Barnes⁣
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Read: Serving the Lord in Our Mundane Moments at the link in my profile @thankfulhomemaker (click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image).
“Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, but “Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.”⁣
~ Jonathan Edwards⁣
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Link to listen to EP 96: My Top 5 Productivity Tips for Busy Homemakers in my profile @thankfulhomemaker (click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image).
We all know the books we read shape us and grow us We all know the books we read shape us and grow us. I've been challenged by books, taught by books, and comforted by books over my years of reading and being read to. ⁣
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I can still pick up a book to read to my grandbabies that I read to my children when they were little and be taken back to those days of sitting with my babies on my lap getting lost in the story. I can hear in those memories the giggles, or surprise or sadness depending on the story in the voices of my children. It's been fun to make new memories with my grandchildren and possibly one day even my great-grandchildren.⁣
⁣
Just as we turn the calendar and think about our Bible reading plan for the year, I know many of us think about what books will be on our nightstands, in our cars, suitcases, coffee tables, and on our bookshelves.⁣
⁣
Here are some tips that have helped me to read more over the years - the link to the post is in my profile @thankfulhomemaker (click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image).
“Maturity starts with the willingness to give on “Maturity starts with the willingness to give oneself.”⁣
~Elisabeth Elliot ⁣
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Link to read What is Spiritual Maturity? in my profile - click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image.
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