Hearts Turned Towards Home: Joyce’s Story

The following is a guest post from Joyce at Joyfull Living and is the third installment of Hearts Turned Towards Home. If you are interested in sharing your story of how God turned your heart toward home, please click here.

What a blessing it is to share the journey of my heart being turned toward home. For me, it was a journey complete with second chances and the Lord doing a wonderful work my heart.

It was decided early in our marriage that when children came, I would be a stay at home mom. When our children were born, I quit my job to care for them. Although I was a stay at home mom technically, my heart was not home and I wasn't at home much either! The days were spent dragging my two young boys to my mothers house to watch soap operas, to town shopping or going out to lunch. We would hurry home when my husband got home to prepare dinner and do chores, but these were done with little effort or care. When the boys started school, I thought that I was not needed much at home and went to work full time.

Working Mom:

Supermom, I wasn't and that was learned quickly. Being gone all day then rushing home for homework, dinner, baths and bed put our family in a harried and disorganized state. I was unable to attend school functions, field trips or parties and when we tried to participate in sports, the routine became even more fierce and rushed. Many times dinner consisted of McDonald's eaten in the car.

Do You Have A Spiritual Vision?

That was the question the pastor on the radio asked one day on the way home from work. His question burned in my heart, “what am I looking for or striving with purpose to fulfill”? In all actuality, it was survival! My thoughts and plans reached no further than completing the day and moving into the next day! Realizing the importance of a goal or vision, something to be reaching toward, I asked the Lord what His vision was for my life.

God's Answer:

I often took a quick walk during break time at work. During the walk the Lord spoke into my heart clearly, “Your vision is your family, your family is your God given career and ministry.” It suddenly hit me that my family was divinely given to me and my home was my own sphere of appointed ministry. The Lord Himself, hand picked me for this task. Is there anything that deserves my time, effort or energy more than that high calling? NO! I realized that by being away from home so many hours and exerting my effort and energy at my job, my family was receiving the worst of my attention instead of my best, which was what they deserved. At work, I was pleasant, smiling and kind and at home I was rushed, grumpy and short on kindness and expressions of love.

Realization and Commitment:

I also realized how I had wasted those precious years when I was blessed to be at home. My days could have been spent building and cherishing my home instead of pursuing fun and pleasures. My heart yearned to go back home and make my home my career. My prayer included thanksgiving for God revealing to me my purpose and a surrender that if He would arrange the details, I would go back home with my heart intact.

His Way:

At this time our boys were ages 7 and 10. My husband and I did want more children, but had suffered three miscarriages in a row. Unable to face the heartbreak of losing any more, we decided that there would be no more children. We sold all of our baby equipment, clothes etc. We would not be needing these anymore. Can you guess what happened in our lives that completely surprised us? Yes, I was pregnant! Choosing to face this pregnancy with faith instead of fear, believing it was God's answer, we were blessed with a healthy baby boy and as we had agreed years ago, I came home.

She Buildeth Her Home:

In Proverbs 14:1, it tells that “a wise woman builds her home”. Building is a process and for me it continues to be a learning experience. For our home it meant me spending much of my time at home, meeting the needs of my family, seeking ways for the home to run more efficiently. It meant seeking God for the attitude of love, service and ministry to bless my home and family. It is a surrender of my desires at times in order to do what is best for others. It is also the highest blessing and sense of fulfillment to care for my family and mange my home.

Now that my youngest son is in school, I have returned to work part time. My job is flexible and the hours revolve around school hours and I am able to make those important school functions. My priorities are at home and family first. Balance is a key trait to hold it all together, but truly my heart has been turned toward home.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

Joyce seeks to live out each day with the heart cry of “my soul shall be joyful in the Lord”. God has given abundant blessings with a wonderful husband of 20 years and three fantastic sons ranging from ages 18 to 8. You may visit Joyce’s blog – Joyfull Living at www.joybright.blogspot.com It is a place where she shares the details of an ordinary life filled with extraordinary joy!

Hearts Turned Towards Home: Jenn’s Story

The following is a guest post by Jenn from Beautiful Calling and is the second installment of Hearts Turned Towards Home. If you are interested in sharing your story of how God turned your heart toward home, please click here.

In 2005, I married a wonderful man and we moved into our new home. Scott had lived on his own for some time before we married and was quite competent in the running of a home. After we married, he still did all the cooking, his own ironing (and mine), we shared housework and I had no desire for that to change. We talked about having children in a year or so. Though Scott wanted me to stay at home when we had little ones, I wasn’t sure that was something I wanted to do. I wondered what I would do all day and how that could be fulfilling? (Yep, I was completely disillusioned!) I suppose I was sort of looking to be someone. It was all about me. I knew the Lord, but His plans and desires for me weren’t a top priority to me at the time.

I started off as a Quality Assurance Co-coordinator within a great company. They were paying for me to take accounting courses at a local college. I had my own agenda and planned to complete additional (paid) schooling and move into the accounting department within the company. I thought that my worth was tied to my work; graduating from college and having a great well-paying career with all the benefits.

I completed a couple courses, receiving high marks then I found out I was pregnant. We were excited and told virtually everyone. And then we lost the baby. (You can read more about that on my blog during June/July). God used this tragedy to turn my heart back towards Him. As I began to focus on Him and learn more about His designs, my heart slowly turned towards home.

It was about that time that I stumbled upon Crystal's blog: Biblical Womanhood. [Note from Brianna: Biblical Womanhood is no longer an active blog.] When I first began to read some of her writings, I thought “Are you crazy?” The idea of serving my husband constantly really rubbed me the wrong way. But the more time I spent reading my bible, looking to biblical examples, following her blog and reading other edifying books, the more I realized how wrong my attitudes were. I began to understand (and embrace!) the role that God has given me; to be a helper to my husband and a keeper of my home.

God has since then blessed us with two little ones. My dreams of college courses and accounting positions pale in comparison to the dream that I am living now. Some days are rough and other days are bliss but most are a combination of the two. I cook much better, I love to bake, our house is in pretty good shape most days and Scott hasn’t had to iron anything himself this year.

I’m still such a work in progress but praise the Lord for the victories that I am seeing as I continue to try and live out biblical womanhood!

Some thoughts from my journey so far:

Heart Toward God: Have you heard the phrase “You will only be as good a mother as you are a Christian”? I think it is true. He must come first. It is He that enables you to be the sacrificing servant that you need to be in order for your heart to really be focused on your family and your home.

Aptitude is Optional but Attitude is Essential: I didn’t enter my marriage with a lot of aptitude. In fact, I really was domestically challenged! Four years in and I still have so much to learn and such a long way to go. I fail miserably in many areas on a weekly (or daily!) basis but I have a willing attitude. I want to learn, to grow, to be the woman, wife and mother that He wants me to be. He'll provide the ability as we look to Him.

Read His Word: Some may claim that the bible is old fashioned, but it is timeless and His truths endure to all generations (Psalm 100:5). In following His blueprints for biblical womanhood, marriage and childrearing, our lives will glorify Him and we will reap benefits. The bible is full of godly and ungodly women that we can learn from with practical how-to’s and the how-not-to’s.

Titus 2 Women: We can all be teachers and students if we are willing. Find yourself a godly ‘older’ (Titus 2) woman whom you can learn from in spiritual things as well as domestic practical matters. Maybe she’s your neighbor, or she attends your church or maybe she is an online friend. If you can’t find one, pray for one.

Like-Minded Friends: Hearts toward home in today’s society is not a popular notion. Even in Christian circles, the value placed on mothers and homes in general isn’t what it should be. Iron sharpeneth iron. Having friends within the church, your social group or online, that share the same values are vital. Sharing lessons learned and being able to rejoice together in victories and good days are also so important on this journey. It is also essential to have someone there to encourage you on those not so stellar days.

Good Blogs: They can be edifying, uplifting, encouraging and, at times, gently convicting. The Lord used Biblical Womanhood in a great way to change the direction of my life. If used wisely, we can learn much from good blogs through real life lessons shared on them.

Good Books: Someone somewhere said that if you only have time to read one book, make it the bible! I agree. But I think that there is also a wealth of knowledge and benefit to be gained in reading good bible-based books on womanhood, marriage and the family. If they are based on scriptural truths and examples then they will not necessarily be new ideas to you, however they may have some practical applications that you might not have thought of before.

Some Favorite Resources

Titus 2 Women 3 Book Series: Secrets of a Happy Heart, Happily Married and Parenting with Wisdom by Debi Pryde This series is so awesome! It deals with you and your relationship with the Lord, then your spouse and then your children.

Loving God with All Your Mind by Elizabeth George

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Jenny Chancy and Stacy McDonald

A Wife After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George

Striving to be the woman, wife and mother that God is calling her to be, Jenn embraces her beautiful calling fully. No longer quite so domestically challenged, she’s still a work-in-progress and writes about it all at Beautiful Calling.

Hearts Turned Toward Home: Erin's Story

The following is a guest post from Erin at A Full Heart and is the first installment of Hearts Turned Towards Home. If you are interested in sharing your story of how God turned your heart toward home, please click here.

Thank you, Brianna, for asking me to do a guest post, and CONGRATULATIONS! on your 3rd blessing! I hope you are enjoying your "babymoon" and loving your new little man!

Getting ready for this post took some pondering and looking back to when and how I became so passionate about being a Homemaker - it certainly was a process, and one that took quite a few years! Here's my story.

When I first became a mother, I left my job to stay at home. It was something my husband and I felt was the "right" thing to do - afterall, why bring life into the world just to leave it in someone else's hands to care for? We felt strongly about that, but I wouldn't say it was exactly a conviction from the Lord. I didn't even really consider what God's thoughts about motherhood were (I was still rather a "baby" Christian myself)!

After a few years and another baby, staying at home with 2 under 3 didn't seem to be as... fulfilling... as I heard it was supposed to be. I hated housecleaning, and I hated having my time taken up by everyone else. Sure, I loved my kids, I loved my husband... but what about me?!

In my teenage years I was an avid horseback rider, I thought perhaps I could find my fulfillment in that again. I tried taking lessons, but the schedule never fit in to when my husband could be home to take care of the little ones, which lead to more frustration. I cried to my husband about how I need more, something to "find myself" in. Oh, how I had bought into the enemy's lies of "its all about me" feminism! But the Lord was patient, and faithful (as He always is!)

Over the years, I continued to wrestle with my attitude. I was discontent, and it seemed like everywhere I turned, I was hearing "fulfill yourself - no matter what the cost to your kids" - even from within the church! I was tormented, as my flesh so desperately desired it, yet something warred within my spirit. I felt as if I couldn't get peace anywhere - so I finally turned to the Source of Peace Himself. I don't know why it took so long for me to even consider what the Lord had to say about it, but once I did, I was amazed at what I discovered! I read Titus 2:3-5, of course, and 1 Timothy 5:14, Proverbs 31, Proverbs 14:1, as well as Deuteronomy 6. It was as if I'd never seen these verses before, they were suddenly so real to me!

One thing that majorly jumped out at me were the warnings that followed many of the verses - I realized that forsaking my role at home (even in attitude!) brought dishonor to the Word of God, allowed the enemy room to be reproachful, as well as tore down the relationships within my home! Yikes! His Word also showed me how God created the home to be a place of ministry for women! I had no need to look for an "outside" ministry - I had one right under my roof - to my children, my husband, the lost, and brothers and sisters in Christ!

Then I saw the example of Jesus himself - how he came to serve, not to be served, and how, to model his likeness, I too must have the heart of a servant - not one of serving myself! I cried out to the Lord and asked His forgiveness for my gross selfishness, and asked Him to help me have the right attitudes. A change happened then and there! The verse that comes to mind when I think of what He did for me is:

He makes the barren woman abide in the house
As a joyful mother of children.
Praise the LORD!
Psalm 113:9

Now, with 5 sons ages 8 and under, no one would consider me "barren" in the literal sense - but my heart was barren, empty of the love God would have me pour out in my home. However, He restored my heart, through His love, so that I can overflow and be a joyfully content mother, wife, and keeper at home - walking in His perfect calling.

Once I turned my heart toward God, it was He who turned my heart toward home!

Erin Robinson has been married 10.5 years to Michael, and they are the blessed parents of 5 boys, ages 8, 6, 4, 2, and 3 months. Erin blogs at A Full Heart - her blog is a blend of insights into the life of a busy and growing homeschooling family, as well as Godly encouragement to women!

Introducing: Hearts Turned Toward Home

I've shared bits and pieces of my story now and again here on Heart(h) Management. But, you know what? I'm discovering that my story is so often the story of what God is doing in the hearts of so many other women!

I had a brainwave recently. I thought about how great it would be to open up Heart(h) Management to other women who would like to share their story. Their story of how God pointed their heart back toward home.

So, in just about a month I'm going to launch a new series! A series from the hearts of God's women! Are you excited? I know I am!

What about you? Dear friend, sister in Christ, do you have a story of how God moved in your life and heart and led you gently back home? Figuratively or even literally.

Perhaps He did a work in your marriage. Or taught you how to love your children. Or maybe you had a worldly view of the role of a woman, and He graciously taught you His view.

If you are interested in participating, please email me and I will send you guest posting guidelines. May our Lord richly bless each one of you as He continues His work of redemption in our hearts and homes!

Image by spisharam