A Woman After God's Own Heart ~ Chapter 15

A Heart That Creates Order from Chaos

Responsibility & Accountability

1 Timothy 5:13-14 ~ And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Every day we are called to manage what God has given us, what He has provided through our husbands' efforts and our own.

The woman who manages her house is not the head of the home (her husband is if she is married and God is if she is not).  Instead, she is the householder, the home manager.

What a blessing it is to us when we serve Him well in this capacity.  And what a blessing we are to our family when we properly manage the house.

How?

• Understand that home management is God's best for us
• Home management is His plan, His way.  It's His good and acceptable perfect will for us (Romans 12:2)
• "Good, better, best, never let it rest, until your good is better, and your better best."
• Choosing to manage our homes is God's best for us
• Decide to take home management seriously
• If we manage our homes effectively, we will have time to be involved in church ministry.
• Luke 16:10 ~ He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
• 1 Corinthians 4:2 ~ Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
• Once I have shown myself to be a faithful manager at home, I am more free to run out the door and do the work of ministry outside my home.
• Order emerges out of chaos when we schedule what's important
• Live as though you will be accountable for the condition of your home and the use of your time... because you will!
• What do people see when they enter your home?  Do they find calm -- or chaos?  Peace -- or panic?  Palace -- or pigpen?  Evidence of preparation -- or procrastination?

12 Tips for Time Management

1. Plan in detail
• I've found that the more you plan, the better you manage and the more you active.
• The more detailed your plans are, the better.
2. Deal with today
• Matthew 6:34 ~ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
• Psalm 118:24 ~ This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
3. Value each minute
• How much is a minute worth?  It's priceless or worthless--depending on how you use it.
4. Keep moving
• A body at rest tends to rem in at rest, and a bay in motion tends to remain in  motion.
5. Develop a routine
6. Exercise and diet/way of life
7. As the "half the time" question
• "If my life depended upon doing this task in half the time I have allotted, what shortcuts would I take?"
8. Use a timer for everything
• The timer helps you allow less time
9. Do the worst first
• What is the worst task on your to-do list?  Do it first and you'll keep that heavy cloud of dread from hanging over you all day long.
10. Read daily on time management
11. Say no
• Make your schedule.  Let it be Plan A.  Then follow your plan by saying no to yourself and to others.  Move to Plan B only if God is moving you to Plan B.
12. Begin the night before
• Little steps like these can bring results when it comes to time management and being organized at home