Two Ways to Make the Most of This Season of Life - Guest post by Tehila Gonen

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Introducing this week's Featured Encourager:

Tehila is an Israeli, God-loving, husband-serving, child-nurturing mom of four sweet little ones aged 1 to 11, whom she homeschools.

She resides in beautiful New Zealand from where she welcomes you to receive her FREE eBook for Moms here and roam around her blog at www.womenabiding.com - ‘Encouraging women to abide in God and His Word.’

Herewith Tehila's post:

Being a home educating mother of four precious children, my role as a mother is to be ‘all there.’

A mother can be a stay-at-home, homeschooling, homemaking, homebody, but in her heart she can still be elsewhere.

I confess that at times my own pride has given me a pat on the back for the ‘being home for my family’ role that I play. After all, I am sacrificing a career, financial comfort, a social life, and dressing in a pinstriped suit with red high heels, for the sake of my family, aren’t I?

But, my friend, sobering introspection will reveal that just because you are physically present in your home, it doesn’t mean that you are giving it your all.

Simply sacrificing certain comforts for the sake of your loved ones, doesn’t mean that your sole desire is to bless them, and to serve them unconditionally, continually, and with a joyful heart as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23).

Being at home doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t rather be doing a whole lot of other things, in a whole lot of other places, with a whole lot of other people.

Psalm 101:2c so wisely states:

I will walk with integrity of heart within my house. (ESV)

Following are two ways to make the most of this season of life; practical suggestions for how you and I can be ‘all there,’ content with the calling upon our lives, and exuding a heart attitude that will please the very nature of God:

Be Present Where You Are

When you are with your children, cooking a meal, talking with your husband, etc. focus entirely on the task at hand, not thinking of other activities that happened yesterday or chores that need to be done later or tomorrow.

As a matter of choice, take the time to savour the moments. Now is the season to cherish the memories, the laughs, the innocence; to hide the precious moments in your soul; to pour into the lives of your children, who look to you wide-eyed, eager to receive instruction and guidance.

You are living in the ‘good ol’ days.’ Ten, twenty years from now, that is how you will most likely view the current season of life that you are in. So enjoy the ‘good ol’ days’ now, rather than being ‘elsewhere’ while they’re actually happening.

Surrender Who You Are

Surrender your circumstances and current position to God.

C.S. Lewis says it well when he explains that there are two kinds of people:

·         Those who say to God, "Thy will be done,"

·         And those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way."

I encourage you to be the woman in the first scenario, who gladly submits and yields to the choice and voice of your Maker. Know and trust that He knows what is best for you and your family, and thank Him for the privileged place of having a family to serve.

Maintaining a “Thy will be done” stance before God is after all a holy attitude which our Lord Himself exemplified during His time on this earth, and which greatly pleases our Heavenly Father.

May the meditations of your heart, your motives, focus, time, vision, and purposes, as you walk within your house be with “integrity of heart.”

Let’s be committed to being ‘all there’ in our homes, as God dwells daily with us.

What keeps you from being ‘all there’ in your home?

Can you add any thoughts to help others in this area?

Garage Sales - Guest Post by Jean Wise

Meet this week's Featured Encourager:

Jean Wise is a freelance journalist/writer and a speaker at retreats and gatherings. She has written numerous devotionals, magazine articles, and newspaper features. Jean is an RN who in 2006 retired from the local health department after 26 years to concentrate on a speaking and writing ministry. She writes four times a week on her blog: http://www.healthyspirituality.org and contributes weekly to a writer’s blog. She lives in Edon, Ohio with her husband enjoying their empty nest as their three adult children have flown the coop. She loves chocolate and thinks we miss much in life when we don’t open our eyes to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Herewith Jean's post:

It’s garage sale season in northwest Ohio. People drag out all sorts of dusty, dinged and damaged stuff from basements, closets, and sheds to sell to others who think they found a great deal on a longed for desired treasure.

This time of year reminds me of the story when the devil held a garage sale.

On the day of sale, the devil placed all of his items out on tables for the public to see. He marked each with the sale price. His tools included handy implements such as hatred, envy, jealousy, deceit, lust, lying, and pride.

In the middle of the garage, sitting by itself, was a harmless looking tool. People were surprised to see it was quite worn and yet priced very high.

“What is the name of this tool?” asked one of the customers, pointing to it.

“That is discouragement,” Satan replied.

“Why have you priced it so high?”

“Because it is more useful to me than the others; I can pry open and get inside a human’s heart with that, even when I cannot get near him with the other tools. It is badly worn because I use it on almost everyone, since so few people know it belongs to me.”

Too often I fall victim to this tool: discouragement. It weighs me down like a heavy shroud of muck and mud. The evil one knows too well my Achilles heel and attacks me, especially when I am tired.

This story helps me remember the source of my discouragement and I certainly don’t want to hold onto that type of tool. Once I become aware that I am holding this dusty, dinged and damaged garage sale item, I let it go and seek after real treasure.

The good news God is the giver of encouragement. God’s garage sale is open 24/7 and we can stop by any time for His support, hope and love. All free, too.

Now that’s my kind of garage sale!

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.

Romans 15: 5

A Prescription for Peace - Guest post by Barbie Swihart

Introducing this week's Featured Encourager:

Barbie is mom of four beautiful children, ages 22, 19, 12 and 9. she works full-time supporting her pastor and church community, and recently began homeschooling. She has a passion to help women walk in their identity and purpose. She loves coffee, chocolate, painting and spending time with her family. Barbie blogs at My Freshly Brewed Life where she shares openly and honestly about her life and her faith.

Herewith Barbie's Post:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)

When I think of peace, I think of rest, stillness, quiet, order. I want a peaceful life, a peaceful home and peaceful children. But what about my own heart? Peace is so much more than quietness, or stillness, or the absence of chaos. Peace is resting in the sovereignty of God, knowing that He has everything under control. It’s knowing that, even in the chaos, He has the power to calm the storm, and that even in tragedy, our hearts can be fully alive in Him. Over the last year, God has been teaching me about peace, how to attain it, and what I must do to remain steadfast in walking in His peace. Here is a prescription that God gave me for acquiring peace. I pray that as you apply these simple steps in your own life, that your heart will remain steadfast, overwhelmed with the peace of God, which passess all understanding.

Step 1: Admit and release any anxiety that is in your heart.

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Worrying about circumstances that are beyond are control can cause our minds, bodies and spirits to become sick. God truly cares about you! Commit now to admit the anxieties in your heart and give them over to Him.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matt. 6:25-26)

Step 2: Continually lift your desires, frustrations, hurts to God in prayer.

Are you familiar with the term, “She’s about to blow!” Well, this is what happens when we hold onto burdens that only God was meant to carry. The pressures of life, undo stress and worry, these things fester in our hearts until we can't hold them in any longer. God did not design our hearts to hold onto so much worry, pain and frustration. He wants to free us from unnecessary burdens so that our hearts can be at rest.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30 NLT)

Step 3: Give God thanks, in ALL things.

This is the most important step, at least for me. I cannot say that I am always in a place where I am prepared to give my circumstances over to God, with a heart of thanksgiving. But I am learning that when I give Him thanks, despite what things may look like to me, it frees my heart to fully accept His will and plan for my life. I must trust Him with my heart!

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. (1 Thess. 5:17-18 - The Message translation)

I promise you that if you follow this prescription daily, the result will be a heart and mind that is filled with the peace of God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7)

The Life you Got - Guest post by Chelle

Introducing this week's Featured Encourager:


Hi ~ My name's Chelle. I was born and raised in Redding, CA then made the move to Idaho about 8 years ago....and I love it! I'm a former rebel, now living a reformed life, because of the love and sacrifice of my SAVIOR....JESUS. I am better known on line as....Reformed Rebel. Currently I spend my days working in a cubicle. However, my dream "job" is...to spend my days, full time, sharing the love of JESUS and what HE has done for me. I blog about my journey learning to walk with the LORD. You can find Chelle at HERE, where she encourages with her experiences in her walk with Christ.

Herewith Chelle's Post:

I'm honored to be guest posting today over at Encourage 24/7. For days now I've been trying to come up with something encouraging to write but it just hasn't happened. So tonight I'm sitting at my desk and praying that the Lord will give me something to say. I've started a few times and deleted them all.   I've flipped through scriptures....and nothing has hit me. Until....

Psalm 107:2
Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!
Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.

This verse is for all of us. As Christians we have all been redeemed and we all have a story to tell. We need to tell our stories to all that will listen. All of us are walking....talking....miracles! You don't have to be a speaker....a writer....a singer....or anything else, other than just you, to tell your story.

Before I gave my heart to the Lord I did many many things I'm not proud of. For a long time I regretted that life. Yes....I knew God had forgiven me but it was so very hard to forgive myself for those things. Then one day I started realizing that until I forgave myself I wasn't going to really have the life that the Lord wanted me to have. So....I went back (physically) to a few of the places where life went all wrong....talked to the Lord about them and forgave myself.   For the places I couldn't go back to....I just talked to the Lord about them and forgave myself.  You see....you can never truly be free until you accept your past life and move on into your new life with the Lord.   I heard a line on a movie tonight that fits this well....

The miracle ain't the life you missed....it's the life you got!

Sometimes we look back and think about all that we missed because we didn't always do the right things. But, what I have found is how much more the life I have now really means to me. Since I gave my life to Jesus it's so much fuller and brighter than anything I ever knew before. The life I have now is the life the Lord had planned for me all along! The people that mean so much to me now....I may have never known had my life been different. This life I've got now is my miracle! I have had a crazy, full life and I wouldn't trade it for anything else because now I can fully appreciate all that the Lord has done for and given me.

When Jesus died on Calvary He set me free from all of my sin and made a way for me to be free! Jesus did that for all of us. So if you have been redeemed....Speak out! Tell the people around you....or the world if your a blogger....your story. People need Jesus and you just might be the one with the right life story that will show them the way.

until we see Jesus....face to face

Home Brew - Guest Post by Denise Rork

Introducing this week's Featured Encourager:

Born and raised in New Mexico, I now live in Boise ID where I am a wife to a wonderful husband, mother to two beautiful daughters, and a grandmother to 5 delightful grandsons! I have (practically!) a lifetime career in training retail personnel and managing office staff. My passions include sharing and celebrating God’s wonderful love and grace, cooking and entertaining, traveling, and giving (receiving!)  the precious  gift of friendship. I write to encourage and share with others, not only about thoughts regarding our everyday struggles, but also about our thankfulness and praise.  I believe that every day, regardless of our circumstances, is a beautiful gift of grace from our Father to share and be thankful for. You will find me HERE on my Blog REFINE ME. 

Herewith Denise's Post: 

“Every wise woman builds up her household, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.” (Proverbs 14:1)
I am sure you have heard it said many times that if Mama ain’t happy, no one is! Do you create happy in your home?
It’s been said that the woman sets the tone for the home, yet all too often we use every bit of energy we possess to be cheerful, outgoing, and “all together” during our busy days interacting with co-workers, volunteers, social activities, etc. Or maybe we have experienced a day of extreme business, tension, conflict, and anxiety. Regardless of the circumstances, by the time we arrive home we are often exhausted and our good moods have been wiped out (we may even be a little on the grouchy side!) We often just need some alone and quiet time; we certainly aren’t in the mood to fulfill our responsibilities to home and family.
Sound familiar? What’s brewing in your home?
Even though it can be difficult to sustain a joyful and uplifting atmosphere at home, (and let’s face it, most of us just aren’t equipped to be a “Martha”!) the attitudes we walk into the door with and the simple things we do, set the mood in our homes. Wouldn’t we all like to be the perfect model of the Proverbs 31 Woman, better known to some as a woman of noble character?
I can just imagine my day going like this…
“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." (31:26)
“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” (31:28)
“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” (31:25)
How would our lives and the lives of our families be different if we took greater care with our attitudes when we enter our homes? If we valued our time spent with them every bit as much as the time we spend encouraging and working with others? Our homes and our families are one of the most sacred places; a place where our language should be full of wisdom and kindness, support and praise. It’s a place where our husbands and our children can look to us for encouragement, trust, understanding, and diligence.
Is that what is brewing in your home?
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (I Corinthians 13:4,5,7)
Sometimes we just have to ask ourselves what (or maybe who) is so important that it would keep us from wanting to brew happiness and encouragement to our family? When we love, respect, and lift up our husbands and children as the Bible instructs us in 1 Corinthians 13, we are fulfilling not only the greatest need in their lives, but also ours to unite us into one. Being a wife and mother is a high calling and it bears eternal value; we should embrace this role that God has assigned to us.  There are always going to be times when we just want to lock ourselves in the bathroom just for a moment of sanity and quiet, but if we haven’t taken the time to serve and share ourselves with our loved ones; if our homes aren’t a place of peace, love, and joy, then we are not fulfilling our God given purpose. What we brew in our homes should be mixed with love, honor and respect and we should embrace (and sing praises!) all of our work with joy , with purpose, and with value.

Please leave your comments here or over at Denise's!  We love hearing from you
God bless