Are You Mary or Martha?

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Having a Martha Home the Mary Way: 

31 Days to a Clean House and a Satisfied Soul. 

Luke 10:38-42 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Martha and Mary

³⁸ Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with ^[a]all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; ⁴² but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

I have always loved the story of Mary and Martha. There is almost a bit of comedy in Martha tattling on Mary to Jesus, “No fair! I am working and she is doing nothing!!!” And I will admit that I used to be very much like Martha. I would put aside prayer and Bible study because I needed a clean house in order for my brain to rest and for me to function. But what if I could be like both sisters? Maintain a clean orderly home and be able to spend time with God?

This book helps me do both.

The author makes the point that the ultimate goal is not for you to be a perfect homemaker, but to have an inviting home filled with love. And she does it in a very gentle way.

The book contains daily challenges. One challenge is called a “Mary challenge” which is a Bible challenge for the day.

Then there are Martha challenges. An example of these challenges would be to clean and organize your bookshelves. Some of the challenges tell you how you can get your children involved, and some even tell you to go eat a cookie! J

These are all very doable things—things that you can do even if you have small children, homeschool your children, and/or work.

I am going to be doing the challenge along with my friends starting on April 4^th. We are going to make it a 62 Day Challenge so that we have extra time.

This book will be a great way to help motivate you to get things done that you have been meaning to do. Watch my blog and Facebook page for more information on The Mary/Martha Challenge.

While it is not essential to get the book in order to join the challenge, I recommend that you do because it is a great book that will encourage you!!!

Find the books in these locations:

Sarahmae

Amazon

Christianbook.com

Book Review: Motivate Your Child

Book Review: Motivate Your Child by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller

                                               *I received the book free and also received compensation but the opinions are my own.

** A great bonus offer at the end of the post!

When I read the following words on the back of the book I knew this book would be perfect for my family. “God's Word gives us a better way to parent, one that builds strong internal motivation in children. When parents change the way they parent, kids change the way they live. This practical book explores a theology of internal motivation and then gives parents real-life solutions to equip their kids for life.”

I have noticed that yelling, taking privileges away, or even using rewards does not help my children become motivated to do things on their own. I have tried to figure out different methods to get them to do things without being told.  

I am so glad I found this book. It is a practical guide that I can use along with the Bible. Instead of having to use some type of reward or punishment to externally motivate my children, they can learn to be internally motivated. There are many ideas in this book that one can easily implement. The book also uses examples of many different types of families.

I have read and discussed parts of this book with my children. So far, I have been shocked at how implementing just a few of these ideas has already made such a big difference in my children’s behavior. For example, instead of telling my children that they had to clean their room now, I asked, “What is your plan to clean your room?” They came up with their own plan. I trusted them with it and the room was cleaned at the time they told me it would be.

This book points out that we need to get kids on “level two” and even “level three” thinking. According to the authors, level one thinking is what kids engage in everyday, thinking about themselves and their own activities. Level two thinking focuses on responsibility and other people. Level three thinking considers God. The book even goes further by helping you teach your children to do more than what is expected.

 A great benefit to this book is that you can start using it on children of any age. They are not too old or too young to benefit from the teaching in this book.

This book gives me the tools to train my children to motivate themselves to do what they are supposed to do in all situations. It will stay in my list of references to share with other parents.

 

 

 

Bonus! Anyone who purchases the book at any retail outlet by February 28, 2015 will receive a Bonus Parenting Strategy Package full of parenting resources worth $150. 

The Bonus Parenting Strategy Pack includes:

• Toolbox of Consequences Video and Study Guide • Kids and Conscience Video and Study Guide • Children’s Activity Lessons for Conscience Development • Children’s Activity Lessons on Correction • Strong Willed Child Teaching Points • Make Devotions Fun MP3 • How to Develop Gracious Speech MP3

Learn more about all of these resources http://www.biblicalparenting.org/motivateyourchildpreorder.asp

INSTRUCTIONS: Purchase the book. Send an email with MYC150 Promo in the subject line with a receipt of purchase to gift@biblicalparenting.org. Biblical Parenting will send you the link and a special code to access these downloadable video, audio and written products!

 

 

My Word for 2015

                                                         

                                    

                                       Prayerful

Many of you may have noticed a new trend in the old way to make New Year’s resolutions. Instead of making a whole list of things that you wish to accomplish in the new year, you pick one word. 

It seems less daunting to have a one word goal than to have a whole list of things that you never get around to. 

My word for this is year “prayerful.”  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes prayerful as, “tending to pray often.” 

That is what I want to do this year. I want to pray often. I want to have time set aside daily for prayer. I want to go through my day and stop whenever I feel a need to pray. 

In September of last year I joined a great Bible study on prayer, Digging Deep in God’s Word. I have been amazed by all we have learned so far. This study has made me want to make sure I devote more time to prayer. (If you are interested in reading more about what the Bible says about prayer, it is not too late for you ladies to join us.)   

Following are steps I have taken so far to accomplish my goal.

I started a prayer journal.

 In this journal I have different pages with people or things listed at the top. I list what I want to pray about for that specific topic. My husband, children, blog, etc., each have their own page. I also have a page for names of people who have requested prayer and the date that the prayer was answered.

I have a separate page for Facebook prayer requests. I usually pray as soon as someone asks for prayer on Facebook. If it is something that I want to continue to pray about, I will add it to my other requests.

I started a prayer schedule with a different focus for each day.

This schedule helps me to not be so overwhelmed. 

 Here is my schedule:

·        Sunday—church family and the lost

·        Monday—friends and family outside of our home

·        Tuesday—my  husband

·        Wednesday—my children

·        Thursday—myself

·        Friday—thanksgiving /God’s mercy and holiness

·        Saturday—government, current events and our community

 I use a chalk board to write the main things or people to pray for during the week.

Now when I walk into the kitchen, I can remember to pray for these things right then. 

These are all ways that I hope I will be able to accomplish my goal of being prayerful this year.

What is your word for the new year?

Are We Fully Relying on God?

 

 Are We Fully Relying on God?

 

As we were reading Little House on The Prairie, I was struck by how much the pioneers had to toil and pray for what they had.

Think about our lives  today as Americans.

We can run to McDonalds for food instead of worrying if Pa will kill some rabbits and if we will be able to eat tonight.

If we want a house we can just buy a house that is already built. We do not have to live for months in a wagon as we search for land. Then when we find the land, we do not have to cut down trees to build our own homes.

Our children can have pretty much all the toys they want and not just have a hog bladder and corn cob with which to play.

That sounds good.  We are living in the best time the world has ever known. But is it really?

In the pioneer days people had to fully rely on God for everything they had. They made sure to study their Bible, pray, and go to church.

With all our stuff and conveniences we should have more time to devote to God, not less. Are we relying on ourselves and not on God? Are we using the extra time we have for God? 

Think about these things as we enter the new year.

Growing Up In God's Word (Bible Curriculum Review)

 (Disclosure: I have received this product for free in exchange for an honest review. These opinions expressed are my own.)

We have been studying Exodus this year for a Bible quiz we will be participating in at church. The opportunity came along for me to review a Bible curriculum  that focused on Exodus. I thought that this would be a great help in our studies. 

This book has been wonderful!!! Each lesson is designed to be used for 5 days of the week. It is suggested that you use it for 30 minutes to an hour each day. 

One of my favorite things about the curriculum is that both my kindergartener and 5^th grader are using it together and both are gaining a tremendous amount of Bible knowledge. 

We have really enjoyed the lesson text and discussion. My 5^th grader commented one day, “Whew!!! That is detailed stuff!”

They have also enjoyed being able to use their Legos with some of the lessons. One day they created a diorama of the parting of the Red Sea.

 Another day my younger son used Legos to show the three signs that the Lord enabled Moses to perform. He was able to present his sculptures later that night and explain to his dad what he learned during our family Bible study. 

The activities really help make the lessons come alive and increase our understanding of the Bible. I loved the discussions that we had while making unleavened bread. 

 

The boys were able to understand what leaven does and why the Israelites were not supposed to use it. When my older son asked if we could add pepper to the unleavened bread, we  talked about obedience and how when God told the Israelites to do something, they were supposed to do exactly as God commanded.

It is great that not only are my children learning, but my understanding of Exodus has increased as well. 

We are really excited that we found these books and cannot wait to purchase more!Click here to order this wonderful Bible curriculum for yourself.  Click here to find  Pryor Convictions Media on Facebook.