In seasons past, our family was very active in minstry and would spend most of Sunday serving at Church from about 6am to 2pm. There were a few areas that we would usually serve in, but also fill in wherever there was a whole. Serving as a family gave us the opportunity of filling four holes at once. It is true that only a small percentage of Church attenders do most of the serving but we were blessed to have many hands that made work light in our Fellowship.
My husband and I served on the worship team. At that time, the Church was growing but the building was still small, so we served on the worship team three times on Sunday, once Monday Night, and then again on Friday Night, loving every minute for about 25 years. Our sons were active in the tape ministry before it was popular and would sit in the Church Kitchen preparing and recording cassette tapes for release after each Service. Yes, that was quite awhile ago, back when we were younger and had alot more energy. 

Times flies by and a few seasons later, our sons have their own families, and my husband and I are finding our new places to serve. We joined the ranks of those blessed enough to make it to their 60's this past year. He is still serving on a worship team by playing whatever instrument is needed, but mainly the electric guitar. I find myself much slower after sustaining injuries from a motorcycle accident about five years ago, and even slower after bruising my arch on a stone, which is making walking with a cane even slower and more painful but this too shall pass. 

 Sharing this Blog with you reminds me of the prophet Jeremiah who said he would burst if he couldn't talk about God. I am thankful for this digital outlet. After two years of podcasting on Moments with Moni through many Biblical topics and Books, I came to a point in our home life that I was unable to plan for quiet times of recording with others so it continued as a solo podcast. Projects on updating our downsized, older home are leaving me without recording equipment throughout the summer. I fought this in my heart for awhile as I saw this stage on the horizon. However, I see it now as an opportunity to share the Domestic aspect of an ambassodor for Christ. Whether  we live in a mansion, a home, a trailer, or a tent, we have the opportunity to offer what we have for His service and make it a safe place for all who enter. 

My morning was spent in the Word and watching our current Fellowship's Service online while having my foot propped up so it would stop throbbing. My husband went to service and upon entering home he annouced that he invited someone over for dinner tonight. I could have easily reacted too quickly.

Thoughts raced through my mind:
I haven't been able to clean for awhile.
How am I going to cook for company?
What do I need to take out and thaw from the freezer?
I better take some more ibuprofen.
Lord Help!

Then he continued, "it's a family member and they offered to bring dinner!"

Hooray, thank You Lord! 

Do thoughts like that ever run through your mind or am I the only one? When we were young newly weds, my mother-in-law called and asked if she could come over.
I hesitated and then told her that the house was a mess as we hadn't set it all up yet. She explained that she was coming over to visit with us, not to inspect the house. We had a wonderful relationship all the years of her long life. So if you have a surprise visit or plan an impromptu get together, remember the realtionship is more important than the dust on the furniture or the grandchildren's fingerprints on the glass door and refridgerator. 

There was another visit this afternoon. A neighbor and I shared gardening stories and a few plants. I like to start plants from seed and share them. I don't have alot of room for gardening and there is no way my few buckets will make us self-sustainable, however, neighbors, friends and family in relationship make for a sustainable community. Americans are quick to put up fences to protect their property, and unfortunately we have put fences up on our hearts to keep people out as well. Perhaps it's time to open the gate and go for a stroll to bring a neighbor down the street a loaf of homeade bread, or a jar of fresh strawberry jam and strike up a conversation. If you can't get out much, then consider inviting someone over. If the dust bothers them, hand them a feather duster. 

I'd like to leave with one last thought. 
But the Lord’s faithful love is from forever ago to forever from now for those who honor him. And God’s righteousness reaches to the grandchildren of those who keep his covenant and remember to keep his commands.​ Psalm 103:17-18 CEB

God's loving kindness lasts longer than the length of our own lives, it reaches into the future through our children and grandchildren and beyond, should the Lord tarry that long. We who have life and breath today, have the blessing and opportunity to be a part of the plans of God. His thoughts and His ways are much greater than our own and reach from eternity past to eternity future. He has an understanding of every life throughout History, knows the amount of hairs on our heads, bends down low to hear us when we pray, knows the deepest darkest secrets of our hearts, and still offers His children an opportunity to take part in His Covenanat promise plans. As we have been forgiven, we can extend that forgiveness to others to become part of His forever family. If we would only talk with the neighbor next door or across the world. 

I hope you are enjoying your Sunday afternoon of rest as i am, with the Great I AM. 

Fellow Domestic Lady,
​Moni

"She looks well to the ways of her house hold and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27
Looking well to the ways of our families and households is a glorious calling.
​
Welcome to the new Blog! It's been my passion all these years that God has given to me to look well to the ways of our household so that He would be glorified. However should the decision be made to not take on this highly honored role seriously, God's Word is ridiculed. It is a good thing to offer ourselves as a role model to others so they might see God's Word in action. Looking after, or standing guard over the home, and those within as well as the activities, lifts our Domestic tasks from mere duty or drudgery to a privilege.

Now I am not saying I am perfect, or my home is perfect,  my housekeeping, or my actions perfect, but obedience and surrender to God's ways are the goal of my heart. If you are seeking ideas on, or encouragement in these areas, then come along on this journey. We will begin here at the Blog and my plans are to add a podcast in the near future.

My husband and I will be married 4o years this summer, and we moved from the North of Idaho to Central Arkansas almost a year ago. We are still updating  our downsized home so my Podcast area has not been and may not always be available this summer, at least I am hoping all of his plans come to fruition by then.
​Until that time, I will be sharing here at the Blog on all things Domestic that we might be encouraged as shining examples of Domestic Ladies. ​

​If we take the time to learn homemaking skills, we are able to stand in for the beautician, painter, cook, nurse, artist, teacher, gardener, day care worker plus many more. These skills are not something that are mastered overnight. One step at a time brings us closer to serving our families well in many areas of daily living while passing on these skills and preparing children for their future home life.

It has been on my heart to share this journey for some time and all the more as we see the future so unstable. Nothing on the stage of this world is a surprise if we stay in the Word of God and in Him we find our strength and comfort in times of plenty and in times of need. Whether you work from home, work outside your home, or blessed to be at home, let's all keep our main focus on bringing glory to our Maker and sharing Him with others. May you be blessed and encouraged to walk worthy of this special calling. 
Would love to hear from you. 
​
Fellow Domestic Lady, Moni