Friday, June 27, 2008

Cheerful Obedience


This is a small excerpt of the devotion I read this morning:

.....everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak: Jeremiah 1:7

God must be sought and seen in His Providences; it is not our actions in themselves considered which please Him, but the spirit in which they are done....


This challenged me to ask myself: Am I cheerful in doing what I know God wants me to do? Or am I complaining and grumbling? I'm sure God is concerned with what we are doing, but even more with our attitudes in doing his Will!

These are the things I need to be more cheerful in:

1. Frugality
2. Organization
3. Cooking
4. Cleaning
5. Being a Caretaker
6. On the job (!)
7. Exercising
8. Devotions
9. When I don't have time for 1-8 above! LOL

With these things in mind these are some books I got from the library at lunch today:

1. Amy Knapp's Family Organizing Handbook. I scanned a few tips from the book and am already impressed with it. Can't wait to read some more!

2. How to Clean Your Home Fast by Vicki Christian

3. The Best Freezer Cookbook by Jan Main

4. Heloise's Beauty Book

5. Strong Women Stay Slim by Miriam E. Nelson, PHD. This book focuses on strength training. I am doing well with my walking, but need some strength training for my upper body. I have been walking about 2 miles a day, most days. I am doing this for my health, to lose a little weight in my derriere and to have more energy for my hectic life!

6. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher. This is an older book which I've heard about, but never read. I hope to get really into it for reading while Mama-sitting. LOL.

I've also come to the conclusion that I need to do more housework and cleaning at night than I'm used to doing. I normally am tired when I get home from work and although I'll cook a meal and do a few odds and ends in the house, its not enough for the schedule I'm keeping now.

Last night after I got home at about 7:00, I changed the sheets on one bed, did one load of laundry and cleaned 2 bathrooms. This is going to be such a head start on the weekend! I'm simply going to have to do two or three cleaning chores every night that I'm home, whether I feel like it or not. The secret is not to sit down. Once I stop, this train ain't leavin the station again that day!

Do you ever have the "poor me" syndrome? I do! When I get home from work I say, I'm tired and hungry and then I eat and sit. From now on I'm going to delay the eating and sitting until some chores are done!

Happy Friday!

8 comments:

Sarah Mae said...

Wow, I'm going to see if my library has any of those books - thank you so much for listing some!

Mom2fur said...

The frugality and organization thing has gotten easier for me, since I make a game of it. I mean, really, scoring big at CVS for little money is something like a runner's high after a marathon. (Okay, maybe not...but it's still fun!)
Hey, doll, I hope you don't mind but I entered you into a contest at another blog. I found it via Biblical Womanhood's Frugal Friday. It is at thebargainbabe.blogspot.com. She is giving away a $10 envelope of coupons to the winner! Hope it's you (and if not you...me!!!!)
Oh, and don't delay the eating and sitting. You need to recharge, and there's nothing wrong with that! But maybe you can pick one area, or one job, to concentrate on each evening (after you eat and rest a bit). Even something as simple as straightening up a coffee table or clearing dishes from the counter makes difference--remember, large, clean spaces give the illusion of a clean room. That's why bedrooms always look cleaner with the bed made!
Now...if you could just get me motivated about exercise!

~The Bargain Babe from *Zucchini Summer Blog* said...

I saw on sortafrugal's blog the clothespin bag you made for her. It is so cute! Just wanted to tell you that I think you're awfully talented!

~BB

Little Penpen said...

I like the idea of not eating until you do a few chores. I need to keep that in mind. I definitely come home from work and crash, when I could really get a few things done first.

Terri said...

Debbie, thank you for posting this today. I was having a poor me sort of day and you helped me get things in perspective. So thank you!!!

Terri

Anonymous said...

Exercise is my biggest thing I can't get motivated on, I was actually thinking of getting my guts up to do a post about exersizing and weight loss.

I wish I was like mom2fur, she stated she ate and rested to recharge. When I come home from work, I have to do all chores fist because once I sit down, thats it! My body whats to stay put in the recharging mode. ha.

Anonymous said...

Debbie,
Just wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts.

Take care, Lyn

Mrs. Bargain Hunting Wife said...

I've read Strong Women Stay Slim and it really kick started my weight lifting. I'm no muscle builder but I have some toned arms:)

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