Teri Lynne Underwood

4 Qualities of a Well-Made Home

by Teri Lynne Underwood · 1 comment

in Homemaking,Lopsided Living

This business of homemaking can be overwhelming.  In fact, if we really contemplate what it is to make a home, it’s far more challenging than managing one.

Managing a home involves schedules, lists, and plans … making a home requires grace, understanding, and  listening.

Managing your home is important and good … making your home is imperative and godly.

Let us never be guilty of allowing managing our homes distract us from the far more significant task of making our homes.

Today, let’s spend some time in Proverbs and explore four attributes of a godly home.

Generosity

Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.  Proverbs 14:21

She opens her hands to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.  Proverbs 31:20

Practicing generosity- both to those inside and outside our houses – is a foundational component of making a godly home.

Humility – Proverbs 15:25

The Lord tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow’s boundaries.  Proverbs 15:25

Holding loose the gifts God has given us, both tangible and intangible, and using them to point to Him is the mark of well-made home.

Intentionality

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.  Proverbs 24:3-4

She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.  Proverbs 31:15

She puts her hands to the distaff and her hand hold the spindle.  Proverbs 31:19

She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.  She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.  Proverbs 31:21-22

When managing your home is viewed as a tool to make your home, the priorities reflect a well-made home. There is nothing wrong with lists or schedules or routines or menus or cleaning plans … as long as they are not more important than treating those in your home with grace and kindness, more valuable to you than spending time in the Word, more worthwhile than listening to the latest “knock knock” joke your five-year-old has made up.

Consideration for Others

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Proverbs 31:27

We’ve talked before about the idea of submission beginning with being polite and what polite parenting looks like, the best part of a godly, well-made home is this:  The people who live there are genuinely interested and concerned about others.  They esteem others ahead of themselves.

This well-made home is much harder work than a well-managed one!  But it’s my sneaky suspicion that if we can successfully make a home, the management part will come with far less complication and strain.

How do you prioritize home making over home managing?

You May Also Enjoy:

• Laundry and Dishes and Cleaning, Oh My! The Making and Managing of a Home
• 10 Ways to Make a Home
• Starting Well in 2012 {Index}

{ 1 comment }

Brain Freeze: When Words Don’t Come

by Teri Lynne Underwood · 1 comment

in Lopsided Living,Spiritual Disicplines

Today I had a great post planned … it was all about what can happen when we allow home managing to take precedence over home making.  I had some great quotes and even an  outline of sorts written.

But the words didn’t come together.   I couldn’t make it flow.

I spent a lot of time working.

I spent a lot of time trying.

I spent a lot of time frustrated.

I even said on Twitter last night that I wouldn’t have a new post today (and received several sweet responses, thank you!).

{Notice anything about those last five sentences?}

It was all about “I”.

Last night when I laid down I realized what the problem was.   Me.

I needed to slow down, to be still … a sudden stop.

Maybe you do too?  Maybe today you’ve been reading blog after blog or listening to child after child.  Perhaps that worry in your mind has been playing on a constant loop.   I don’t know what your life’s journey looks like today but I do know the One who does.   And He is calling you home, to Him.

Abba Father, You beckon us to enter Your presence.  You invite us into that sacred stillness where the cares and concerns of this world fall away in Your glory.   Forgive us for our haste, for checking You off our “to do” lists.  Will you, O Lover of our souls, cause us to long for You.  Draw us in to the peace beyond understanding and as we rest in the shelter of You, grant us calm that overrides our circumstances.  Today, Lord, we lay down our plans, our goals, our lists, our worries, ourselves … and we declare You are enough.  In Jesus’ name, Amen

{I wrote a whole series about slowing down, biblical rest last summer.  Perhaps it will speak to you?}

Image via microsoft clip art

You May Also Enjoy:

• Parent with Prayer
• 10 Tips for a Great Quiet Time
• Devotions, Quiet Time, Personal Bible Study. Is It Really Necessary?

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10 Ways to Make a Home

by Teri Lynne Underwood · 4 comments

in Homemaking,Lopsided Living

Sometimes I think we use homemaking and home managing as synonyms … and we shouldn’t.  Managing is not the same thing as making.

Manage: to handle, direct, govern, or control in action or use

Make: to bring into existence by shaping or changing material, combining parts, etc.

from dictionary.com

We have to manage the details of our home … if we don’t, chaos ensues.  I get that.  But let’s not get so caught up in managing our homes that we neglect the far more significant task of making a home.

Here are 10 ideas for making a home:

1. Pray together.
2. Eat together.  {Love the resources from Focus on the Family’s Make Every Day Count Facebook page!}
3. Tickles and giggles.
4. Create stuff.
5. Serve others.
6. Dance and sing and act goofy!
7. Look each other in the eye.
8. Listen well.
9. Hug often.
10. Work together.

What else would you add to this list?  How do you work at making a home?

linking up with Oh Amanda’s Top Ten Tuesday – where every single week I find inspiration and great information.

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You May Also Enjoy:

• 4 Qualities of a Well-Made Home
• Laundry and Dishes and Cleaning, Oh My! The Making and Managing of a Home
• Starting Well in 2012 {Index}

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Laundry and Dishes and Cleaning, Oh My! The Making and Managing of a Home

Tools of the Trade: Time Management