Don't Become a Husband Watcher!



I was thinking today on how we are always trying to tell somebody else how to do their job. We are constantly sweeping around someone else's door. I wonder why we feel the need to do this? I want to apply this to being a HUSBAND WATCHER. Do you know what that is? It's a woman who knows what her husband is supposed to do and be and instead of taking care of her own faithfulness to her God designed role she takes on the self appointed role of playing "Holy Spirit" in her husband's life, pointing out all his faults and weaknesses. She even haults her own obedience to the Lord, because of her "when...then" attitude. "When he does this, then I'll do that!"

Ladies we should know better than that. We cannot believe that God is pleased with such behavior. You are not your husband's Holy Spirit. You are his wife and God has given you a role to play and instead of watching out for all that he is not doing, make sure you are doing what God assigned you to do. There is nothing wrong with being aware of our husband's responsibilities, but if he is not meeting his God given role then pray for him instead of bashing him. Lift him up before the Lord. Don't constantly nag him about what he isn't doing. Who wants to live in the house with a nagging wife?? The bible says that it is better to dwell on the roof top than in the house with a nagger. (Proverbs 21:19)

So search your hearts dear wives and instead of rating our husbands, let's check our own score in the Wife Department. How do you fare?  Do what you do as unto the Lord and you will reap your reward from Christ Jesus.

Happy Homemaking!!

Envy!

Now this is hard to admit, but I was once envious of a very close friend of mine! She seemed to have it all! She was gorgeous, smart, and sociable! Everyone liked her! I use to think; "No one can be this perfect," I'm sure she had flaws, but no one ever saw them. She was always there for people, you know the selfless type. If you needed something you knew you could call her. Whew! That had to be rough! Having to be like that all the time, nevertheless she was a great friend!


Well as time progressed I saw that I was a little envious of her success in life. We can all smile on the outside and act as if we are truly happy for people, all the while seething on the inside. I won't say I was seething, but I was definitely envious. I had planned my life to be a certain way. I wanted to have a successful career, the husband, the kids, the house with the picket fence and none of that happened for me, at least not in that order. But it was happening for her. It seemed as if all my dreams were becoming her reality! See envy is subtle, it doesn't come on you all at once. It sneaks up on you until it has full control and then you have resentment towards people for no apparent reason. Yes my friend was starting life out just the way I planned mine. She was getting the calls for the excellent jobs, and she was living in a beautiful community, she purchased a home, bought a new luxury vehicle. I mean it was like Valley Girls gone wild!! LOL!!


Well my little life was nothing in comparison to hers, or so I thought. I had gotten pregnant, wasn't married yet. Didn't have a job or a career for that matter. I did finish college, so at least I had that right? LOL!! I was feeling uber sorry for myself. I wasn't happy for her on the inside even though I smiled with her on the outside. I was there with her when she picked out her home and I was there with her through a lot of things, but on the inside I was pouting! I was feeling sorry for little old me. See that's what an envious heart does. It deceives you. It makes you think your life is miserable and everyone else's life is peachy! You never stop to think that everyone has problems and issues and life is not peachy all the time for everyone. All you can see is that your dreams are not being fulfilled and it seems as if the other person's are. Envy is a MONSTER and it must be killed. That dragon has to be slayed or else you will spend your whole life moaning, groaning and being discontent, always looking over at someone else's home and life. Never being thankful for that which God has given you.


Envy is a lot deeper than this little example that I have shared. Envy breaks the heart of God because what you are essentially saying to Him is that you want what He has given another person. Or that what He has given you is not good enough. That hurts God because His ways are perfect and what He has given you is His gift to you and is His best for you. Envy is a heart condition. Out of our hearts come these things. (Galatians 5:19-21) I honestly must say that being envious of my friend was God's way of showing me what was truly in my heart. See we women are good masqueraders! We can put on a face like no other. We can smile with you and then stab you in the back and go on like nothing ever happened. Women are very catty and majority of women deal with envy in some form. You can observe this in any situation and in any place. Go into a restaurant and watch how women look at other women, especially if a woman has a beautiful appearance or is wearing some beautiful attire. The other women GO IN on her. "Girl look at her! Now she does not have to be wearing all that makeup just to eat here at Applebee's" "Girl you see those shoes, they are so last year!" I could go on, but you get my drift. All of those comments are indicators of envy on the inside of you, deep down in that heart and it will come out in a moment's notice.


I said all of that to say this! I have been set free from that. I am no longer envious of anyone. I love that friend that I mentioned above and even though we don't talk as much now I really wish her much happiness in this life! I can really say that now and mean it! :) There is not an envious bone in my body any longer because Christ has put all of that under His feet and since I believe in Him it is now under my feet as well! Let us get rid of these evil roots in our hearts once and for all. The bible says that envy makes the bones rot and who wants rotten bones? Not me!! Allow God to show you the truth about what's down in your heart. Let Him expose you and then let Him cleanse you. He will do this, but only at your request and your yielding to His Spirit.


Cheers to being set free from all forms of evil!! :)





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Baked Eggplant Sticks

I don't know how many of you like eggplants, but here is quick recipe to enjoy them.

Baked Eggplant Sticks

Ingredients:

• 10 oz eggplant
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper
• 1/2 cup Italian Seasoned breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsp parmesan cheese
• 1 large egg white
• oil spray 
• 1 cup quick marinara sauce for dipping

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450°. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly spray with oil.

Cut ends off the eggplant. Slice eggplant in half, then into 1/4 inch thick slices. Lay each slice on the cutting board and cut into 1/4 inch strips. Be sure to cut all the strips the same size so they cook evenly.

Place eggplant strips in a bowl and season with olive oil, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Combine breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese in a bowl, and egg whites in another.

Dip a few strips of eggplant at a time into the egg whites, then into the breadcrumbs. Using a fork, remove eggplant from crumbs and place on the baking sheets. Spray with more oil and bake 10 minutes in the middle rack.

Turn over and bake an additional 5 minutes, or until golden. Serve hot.



Enjoy!!

Lay Aside Every Weight

Good Morning Ya'll!


What a beautiful day it is. It's raining here in south Georgia and all is quiet and calm in my home. Hubby is gone to work, kids are at school and I am here drinking hot apple cider and listening to a message entitled: Be Filled With The Spirit, by Glenn Jackson. I always listen to a message as I clean my home or when I am here alone. Hearing God's Word really sets me free and makes my day brighter and lighter.


The Word for today is: Gossip!! Whoa buddy!! That's some word!! Are you a gossip? I know I have been and I find that gossiping is very easy for women to do. We are constantly minding other people's affairs. We always have to share our opinion about another person. Well I must say that it isn't Godly and it is SIN!! It is wrong to sit around and talk about other's private affairs, 99% of the time what we are saying is not even true anyway so that means we are gossiping and lying all in one!! SMH!! The Lord directed women and men to not be idle. Being idle is one of the main reasons for gossip. We just don't have enough to do or we just won't do that which we should be doing. If we would keep our hands and minds occupied with productive activity we would not even have time to be minding someone else's business. I am ashamed that I have found myself doing this lately and I have repented and am now encouraging you to repent of it. Now to repent means to confess and to turn away from it. It doesn't mean you repeat this over and over. Once we confess and get forgiven we should ask for strength to not return to our vomit. We should not desire to gossip and if we have such a desire we should seek to be set free from it. We must look at gossip for what it really is: SIN and sin separates us from God. We cannot be in fellowship with Christ if we have sin on our lips and in our hearts! Gossip, backbiting, and slander ruins the reputation of others and we are called to love others as ourselves. Would we like it if other people sat around and discussed our private lives, or what they think is our private lives? I know I wouldn't like that, so I must give that same respect to others.


Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1) We can't run this race with weights on our legs. Well we can but we won't get very far and we will be exhausted and give up before we make it to the finish line. That is what Paul is trying to tell us. He is telling us to get rid of that thing that slows us down and will keep us from enduring and finishing the race. We are running a race. The trail is different for each individual but the goal is the same and the prize is Christ, who is eternal life. With that in mind, let us be encouraged to put these things off that trip us up and move forward to the finish line!!


Cheers to you all on winning this race!


I am enjoying some Hot Apple Cider on your behalf! :)





It's Fall Time

I love this time of the year! It is actually my favorite time. I love to feel the cool breeze against my skin and I like to watch the colors of the leaves change on the trees. This is harvest time. This is the time where you reap the rewards of your labor. I was talking to my mom this morning and she said this is the time where we bask in the awesomeness of God. The time where we just relax and live. That's what fall time means to her and that's what it means to me as well. I am not saying that this is the only time we are to do this, but this season just reminds you even more how our lives as believers is supposed to be like this everyday. We are to live a life totally dependent on Christ. Each and everyday we are to stand in awe of His majesty and His power. I love how nature reminds me of this truth!

The word for today is SUBMISSION! Scary word, huh? Most people hate this word and that is because many of them are ignorant of what it really means and some are in total rebellion against God and His instruction. Submission is voluntary and it's not something that should be forced upon anyone. God Himself does not even force us to submit. He desires that we voluntarily lay our lives down for Him and others. When submission is operating properly, one does not lose their identity in the process. Our personality grows and develops into that person that God created us to be. Whatever your situation, you should flourish and improve if Godly submission is in operation. So wives, submit to your husbands and allow him to be the leader in your home. It doesn't matter whether he is a believer or not, he is still the head of the household and should be treated as such. When we don't do this we are walking outside of God's will for our lives. We must learn to put our pride aside or our rebellion and voluntarily submit to our husbands. I promise you that your home will run more smoothly and operate efficiently when this is put into practice.

Dear Father,

First of all, I submit myself to you. Then Lord, help me to submit myself to my husband and his authority in our home. Help me Lord to see that you love me and that you only desire I live a fulfilled life and when I obey you I am walking in that fulfillment. Teach me to be careful to listen to the Holy Spirit and let Him guide me in these situations. Break my will Lord, and let your will be done. In Jesus' Name

Cheers to you ladies on your way to a beautiful home!

I am enjoying a fresh piece of apple cake and chai tea on your behalf! (hehe:)



My New Blog

Hello guys!!! This is my new blog! I hope you all will join me as I continue this exciting adventure called Life. The Joyous Home is a blog about my journey to being a Wife and Mother after God's Own Heart and creating a loving atmosphere for my growing family. I am so excited that I now realize my calling and purpose in this life. It feels good to wake up in the morning and know that you are doing EXACTLY what God has for you to do. There isn't a better feeling than that. So many people are on a search for meaning to their lives and in all honesty this life is a drag if there is no purpose for your living. This life is not all that grand if you are not waking up everyday and living intentionally. I hope to share with you all the journey to love, joy, and peace in this life. We can achieve that, you guys, in this lifetime, and I don't mean an artificial love, joy, and peace. I am talking the REAL DEAL HOLYFIELD!! :)

I desire to create a Joyous Home for my family, one where my husband feels honored, loved, and cherished and where my children feel safe, loved, and happy. I hope you all will embark on this journey with me as we travel the road less traveled. A road where our lives are poured out so that others may be blessed. A life of sacrificial love. A love that hurts soooo good!! My heart's cry in this life is to kill all of me so that Christ may reign supreme and His love be seen and experienced by others, through the death of my self. What better place to start the dying process than in my own home!!

Cheers to the road less traveled and the Joyous Home!

Love,

Stephanie