THE BAPTIST WOMAN

LECTURE 11

THE HOMEMAKER II

Josh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

The Battlefield

By Debbie Williams

As a professional organizer, I often hear parents' frustrations about time management or being disorganized. Most of us are so busy working, commuting, and carpooling that we just can't find a way to fit everything into a twenty four hour period. With a bit of help, you can find ways to manage your home and spend more time with your family.

* Enlist Help- Delegate jobs to other family members. You don't have to do it all yourself.

* Double Duty- Do two or more things at once: fold clothes while talking on the phone, file bills or papers while watching

the news, etc.

* Beat the Clock - Set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes and have everyone clean up. Competition is a great incentive.

* Block and Tackle - Use 5 or 10 minute time blocks to tackle those big jobs (cleaning closets, attic, basement, kids' rooms).

The job will get done eventually, and you will get a sense of accomplishment each time you work on it.

* Ready the Troops- Iron or assemble clothing for an entire week at a time. Make lunches the night before.

* Clear the Decks - Leave a clean house. Make beds and wash dishes before you leave for the day. This keeps you from

being overwhelmed when you return.

* Divide and Conquer - Make a "to do list" at the end of each day, prioritizing with Must Do Today, Must Do This Week,

Would Like to Do Today, etc. This keeps your tasks in perspective.

God is very organized; He created the world in a very precise and organized way. God instructed Israel to give sacrifices and to worship Him in a clearly organized way. The New Testament churches are to do everything decently and in order.

The government was designed by God in a very organized fashion…likewise with the military. And, the family is to be organized also; home life should be organized; and the great organizer is the one who ‘guides the house’, the ‘keeper of the home’, the Baptist woman.

1 Cor 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

2 Thess 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

Get Things Done; it’s as easy as 1,2,3…..21

By Maria Gracia

Mary runs a popular Christian Homemaking ‘ezine’

Ever begin doing something that you do for a few days, and then simply stop doing it?
For example, let's say you promised yourself that you were going to file papers immediately before they got out of hand, but then something else came up, and the next thing you knew, you had another pile of papers that needed to be filed.
Or perhaps, on January 1 you made a vow to yourself to exercise for 20 minutes every day. You exercised for a few days. But then, by January 5, you gave up.
This happens to everyone on one occasion or another. But, you really can start getting things done!
Next time you really want to do something, and you want to actually start and continue doing it, realize that doing it for one, two, or even three days in a row is usually not enough.
It takes at least 21 days to form a habit. This means that you have to do something at least 21 times before it begins to become part of your everyday routine.
So . . .

Decide exactly what you want to do. Write it down and post it where you can see it every day, like your bathroom mirror. Be as specific as possible.

Schedule time to do what you want to do. Again, it takes 21 days to form a habit, so schedule at least 21 days on your calendar and don't let anything get in the way of your schedule. If you miss one of your scheduled days, it's best to start over and schedule another 21 days. You must be consistent and dedicated to doing what you want to do.

Once you reach your 21 days, congratulations! Don't stop now though, schedule another 21 days, and then another and so on, until you do those things you want to do, without even thinking about them . . . like brushing your teeth.

Ps 61:8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Prov 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Eccl 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

I’m late, I’m late…for a very important date!

By Maria Gracia

Do you sometimes feel like the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland? One of the most memorable scenes was that frantic rabbit hysterically shouting, 'I'm late, I'm late--for a very important date.'
You don't have to rush to get where you're going to be on time. A little bit of creative scheduling and discipline will allow you to slow down, de-stress and be there a few minutes ahead.

Do some personal calculations. Know your numbers! For example, let's say you have an appointment at 10:30AM tomorrow morning. And let's go on to say your numbers are as follows:
EVENING
* You need 8 hours of sleep.
* It takes you 30 minutes to fall asleep.
MORNING
* Always pad your time needed by a 'minimum' of 30 minutes.
* You need 90 minutes to wake up, shower, dress, etc.
* You need 10 minutes to walk the dog.
* It's winter and you have to warm the car for 5 minutes.
* It will take you a 'maximum' of 40 minutes to get to your appointment. (Always plan on the trip taking longer. With traffic, construction, etc., it usually does.)
What time should you wake up? Add up your morning numbers. In this case, you'll need 175 minutes--approximately 3 hours, from the moment you wake up, to get there with enough time to spare, and without rushing. So, if you have to be there at 10:30AM, you should wake up no later than 7:30AM, and do everything you have to do without getting distracted. Use a timer to ensure you're staying on track, and not taking too long doing any one activity.
Also, be sure you get enough sleep the previous night. In this case, you should go to bed no later than 11:00PM, or earlier if possible.

Watch out for distractions. Imagine this scenario. You went to bed early, woke up on time, and were currently 'on schedule.' That is--until the phone rang. Instead of allowing the answering machine to screen your call, you decided to pick up. You soon discover it's Aunt Martha who just had to tell you about her wonderful birthday party. She just rattles on and on, until you can finally get a word in, and tell her you'll have to call her after your appointment. She says, 'Ok, I just have to tell you one more thing . . .' Needless to say, you're now late.
When you have to go somewhere, always have your answering machine (or your receptionist) screen your calls. Chances are, it won't be an emergency, and you'll be able to return the call later, when you have more time.

Pad your time. If you think it’ll take 5 minutes, plan for 10-15. There are very few things you can do that will only take 5 minutes or less to complete. For example, you may think it takes 5 minutes to check your e-mail, but very often, it takes 15 minutes or more. Once you get into your e-mail program, dial up, read a few letters, perhaps respond to a few, and then close your program, that original 5 minutes often is long gone. 3 words: Pad your time.

Sound the alarm. Alarm clocks are not just for waking you up in the morning. If you have to leave your house or office at 3:00 in the afternoon, set the alarm to buzz at that time. You can also use a watch alarm, or a computer software reminder alarm.

Get ready (be)fore bed. Don't wait until the morning arrives before deciding what you're going to wear, or what you have to bring. The night before, lay out your clothes, have the kids' lunches ready to go in the refrigerator, organize your materials and put them near the door, make sure you have enough gas in the car, etc. If you do everything you need to do the night before, you'll be able to dress and go, without stress, in the morning.

It’s time to set your clocks ahead. Set your clock and/or watch ahead the number of minutes that you're usually late. For instance, if you're usually 10 minutes late, set your watch so that it's 10 minutes fast. Try to forget it is running fast, so you don't think you have extra time.

If you snooze, you looze. Most alarm clocks come equipped with a snooze button that temporarily stops the alarm, and allows you to sleep for a few more minutes. Try placing your alarm clock on the other side of the room, so you actually have to get up out of bed to turn it off. Once you're up, don't go back to bed. Or, if you must hit the snooze button once or twice, set your alarm clock earlier to make up for the extra time you need.

The early bird gets…there on time. If you have a meeting at noon, plan to get there between 11:30 and 11:45 at the very latest. You won't be late. Plus, if you happen to get there early, great! Now you have time to read that article you packed in your briefcase last night! Good for you!

Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Eph 5:15-17 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

James 4:13-15 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

Make life easier

By Maria Gracia

LESS IS MORE. It's more important to have a few nice things that you truly enjoy, than to just have lots of stuff. Say goodbye to things that don't fit, are out of style or are unflattering. This goes for clothing, furniture, knick knacks, and other possessions you're not happy with.

CONSOLIDATE CREDIT CARDS. Most stores take Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Pay off your other credit cards, and in the future use only one or two of these major credit cards. Or, if possible, use cash or your ATM card for purchases.

SCREEN YOUR CALLS. Let your answering machine take all your phone calls, and return calls on your time.

DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF. Don't allow trivial matters to aggravate you. If the milk spills, wipe it up and move on to more important things.

GET HELP. Don't try to do everything yourself. Split up household responsibilities among family members. Delegate to your staff. Outsource projects, repairs and so on.

DON'T TRY TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING. There's no need to store it in your memory. Write it down, and write it in one place so that you can find it easily.

DON'T OVER-SCHEDULE YOUR CHILDREN. Too many activities can cause a strain on your children, and you!

PLAN EACH DAY. Spend 10 minutes each night, planning for tomorrow. You'll be focused and ready to take on the world each morning!

Luke 10:40-42 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Have a Happy Home

By Kathy Gates

Kathy Gates is a Professional Life Coach in Scottsdale AZ.

It turns out your mother was right after all -- Happiness really does begin at home, with the things and the people you are surrounded by. Your vision is one of the first messengers to send signals to your brain as to how it feels. Therefore, it follows that keeping your home happier will have a direct impact on how you feel.

What do you see in your home --Clutter? Chaos? Angry faces?
What do you hear -- Loud voices; Teasing…?

What do you feel when you look around your home? Stress?
Unhappiness? Frustration? UGGGGG!

What if instead you could feel and "see" opportunity and optimism? Energy and enthusiasm? Ok, maybe that's going a little too far, after all it is just the living room.

Try these ways to let your home environment help make you happier.