We’ve had a little time at home in between our meetings and we’ve stayed busy! But it wasn’t just busy for the sake of being busy. As I look back on the week, I see a definite theme.
I got to meet up and have lunch with my sweet friend. Days might be full, but we all need to make time for fellowship and friendship. I recently heard a message by Chuck Swindoll and he said,
“We come into church like marbles instead of grapes!”
In other words, we don’t let our lives mesh with others. I’m thankful for my grape friend who helps me not be a marble! Our time together enable us to connect far better than sending a text message! It was up close, personal and meaningful.
After a two-day trip away, my husband returned home. It was a snowy, wet night, and because the garage was full with two cars inside – mine and our daughter’s, he parked in the slushy driveway and stepped inside. His shoes dripped with the remains of the winter weather, so he stepped across the hardwood floor onto the dining room rug…the “pretty” rug meant for covering the floor, but not necessarily for wiping wet feet. I inwardly cringed, then asked,
As a woman who loves to bake, I can tell you that there’s nothing more disheartening than baking up a new bread recipe then cutting a slice after it’s cooled only to find that it’s dry!
Ugh.
It’s frustrating to go to all that trouble only to have dry morsels fill your mouth like so many tumbleweeds in the desert. But did you know that God’s Word tells us that there is a time when dry bread can be a good thing?!
Proverbs 17: 1 says
Better is a dry morsel with quietness,
Than a house full of feasting with strife.
There is nothing appealing about a dry morsel to our taste buds, but God’s Word says the blessing of quietness and peace is so great, that it makes a dry morsel more desirable than moist bread, dipped in Olive oil!
This passage is saying that peace in the home is beyond all other material blessings. A home full of feasting is wonderful, until that home is full of strife. Have you experienced how hard it is to take a bite of anything when there’s strife and contention around the table? We all have.
If peace is so desirable, then what keeps us from having it? Why isn’t it permeating from our family relationships as it should?
There can be other causes, but ladies, God’s Word gives us several pictures in Proverbs that point the finger of strife in our direction. It’s a hard picture to look at because it’s very telling. This is convicting to my own selfish heart. Listen to ways we can destroy the peace…
A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping. Prov. 19:13
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. Prov. 21:9
Prov. 25:24 It is better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Prov. 15:16, 17 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.
Listen to what is being traded in so that apeace can be found –
Strife
Quarrels
turmoil
brawling
hatred
What would a person take so they could enjoy quietness at home?
a corner of the housetop
a corner of the roof
just a little material goods
a dinner of herbs
a dry morsel
Love sweetens dry morsels
~Matthew Henry
If you’re realizing that there is little peace in your home, recognize that if you are a child of God, you have the Prince of Peace living in you! The Christ in you should permeate each relationship, allowing His peace to rule.
Ask the Lord if you’ve contributed to the strife by being contentious and quarrelsome. Be still and let His Spirit speak to you. Then humble yourself and make it right before God and also your family. Invite them to come in off the rooftop, and serve up some dry morsels, slathered with love. Peace will return.
P.S. It’s better for your pride to be hurt than your family destroyed.
Almost 3 years ago my girls and I took our first girl’s trip. We were celebrating my birthday then. We had so much fun, and it was such a special blessing to connect with one another, that we were excited to plan another one!
Last weekend we took our second trip to celebrate a special 30th birthday, and I’ll let you figure out who’s turning 30! We went to a spot in South Carolina that was absolutely beautiful and perfect for our two night, three day getaway!
The most important part of any time is the people with whom you share it! We get along so well and it’s just so easy to be together. How blessed I am!
The place we stayed was on the 11th hole of the golf course, and also near a beautiful lake! There were stunning views all around us!
We chose to bring food and cook supper, lunch and breakfast. We want to have good food anytime we get together! This time did not disappoint!
To celebrate the birthday, we went out to dinner one evening. The picture below was my Tomato pie. It was amazing! It’s very different from the recipe that I make, and I loved it!
For birthday cake, I brought Chocolate Orange cakes – an Ina Garten recipe that we love. We went to a beautiful gazebo at the Lakeside for our birthday party.
There were so many fun things to do! One day we spent five hours in the swimming pool and had it almost completely to ourselves. What a fun, relaxing day!
No girl’s trip is complete without some shopping, right?! Soooo…
We had intentional times of conversation, talking about important matters in each of our lives. We had times of prayer and times in God’s Word. I’m so thankful we can share those spiritual moments that knit our hearts together.
Whitney did a great job planning the location for our getaway. We are all looking forward to the next event that we can celebrate!
Have you ever had a strictly girls trip? What was the best part?
We all want to spend time with our family, but we’re so busy with everything else going on in our world, how do we do it?
How do we respond when so many others need/want our moments, hours and days, yet we long for more time with our husband? More time pouring into our children? Here are some points to ponder when you consider how yo will spend your days:
Establish an eternal perspective. How will this decision effect eternity? If it won’t, then is it pressing right now or should I do something else?
Remember when you say “yes” to someone, you’re saying “no” to someone else. Who should I be saying “no” to? Is this person in my priority order?
Respond to each opportunity on the basis of how it will affect your ability to fulfill your current obligations. Will doing this make it more difficult to do what I have to get done today? Will doing this help me accomplish what is before me?
Try to do only the right things for the right reasons at the right times in the right seasons.
Now, how will you spend TIME with your family this weekend? Perhaps you should start by asking yourself these four questions, then make decisions about what you will/should do!
Your family opportunities won’t be there forever! Grab them while you can!
RefreshHer 