Working together

A family is a team and one thing a team does is work together for the good of everyone that's a part of it.  All families, big and small, benefit from working together and taking a responsible role in the family. It helps in managing the daily routines that can veer us off course when neglected.

Enter...chores!
(I know your wondering how on earth this will draw your family closer...)

But the truth is that when we work together there is more time to spend enjoying 
the moments we're given.

I'm no expert in this area because I am more of a doer than a manager. Sometimes I find it easier to do it myself than send one of the kids, have to check up on them, send them to do it better, deal with the whining and so on and so forth! On the other hand, my husband is a great delegator and he's proven to me how this is a much better way and is worth the time in training.

Something we started doing quite a while ago, was to give each child their area of authority.  That means whoever is in authority of the room, leads the others and gives out assignments to get everything done.

If something isn't done right, as the manager of that area, they will be held responsible for it. This helps keep them more accountable and making sure everyone is doing their job and doing it correctly.
We gave the older kids the most used areas and the ones with the most work because they can handle more and the younger ones the areas that aren't as difficult to maintain.

The results? Great!!!

I love it because we can accomplish so much in so little time, it teaches the kids how to submit to authority, and how to work together while serving joyfully.  ;)

With that said, it isn't perfect, but then again nothing is.  Sometimes the kids don't like to submit to each other and arguments erupt. There is never a shortage of reasons but as these things come up, we're able to deal with the problem and get to the heart of the issue.

Since we've been doing it for quite a while, they have gotten more efficient on the chores and used to working together.  I love that it teaches them leadership skills and they have learned to manage their areas better.

Working together can be fun.

We give them incentives from time to time depending on the size of the task at hand.  For example, in a certain time frame if they accomplish the job, we'll take them out for ice cream. One summer, the reward was a spontaneous trip to the beach.  

Usually the reward is something cheap but fun or yummy!

Another way to make it fun is to divide them up in teams and give them each a room to work in. The one who's room looks better wins. The reward bragging rights:)

This was a fun one! The teams were boy vs. girls and they went above and beyond by not only cleaning up but also adding decor to the room. They brought out table runners, candles, and anything they could find to spice up their room. What can I say they're competitive!

Chores don't have to be boring but they do have to get done. So get the kids involved in working together because we can do more together than apart.

How do you involve the family in helping out at home?

Serving Joyfully

When I was pregnant with my first child, I had visions dancing in my head of what motherhood would be like. I pictured myself in a white cotton flowing dress, looking nice I might add, as I sang to my baby. I couldn't wait to dress her and care for her. I was eager to nurture this unborn child.

Then my baby was born. She was so sweet and I loved her so much... So why the postpartum depression? Oh, and what was I doing wrong that she was having these uncontrollable crying fits every evening between 4-6 pm? Why didn't she sleep at night!

Those dreams of tending to my baby had turned into chores. The cotton flowing dress had turned into a cotton tshirt with all sorts of mysterious stains! Ugh!!

Well, that stage with my first child did pass and exactly 12 months later I was doing it all over again with child #2.  Well, it didnt get easier, not even with child #3, 4, or 5!

Which brings me to my topic.... Serving joyfully.

It's hard to serve joyfully when we feel tired, overwhelmed, unnoticed, and sometimes like we're serving in vain!

Admittedly, I don't always serve with joy. There are things I've done begrudgingly, to prove a point, or with some motive other than joy.

But I want to serve my family... joyfully, for the sheer joy of just serving because I love them.  I want to serve like Jesus.  Even when he knew he was headed to the cross he washed the feet of His disciples.  Even when he was performing miracles and tired from a long day,  when he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them.

The problem I sometimes face? Expectations. If I do this then...___________ (Fill in the blank).  If I just cleaned the bathroom, you better watch your aim.

Serving wholeheartedly with no expectations brings fulfillment and we can do it if we change our attitude.  Why am I doing this? Because I feel I have to, or because I'm choosing to bless my family with... _____________ (fill in the blank) a clean home, a healthy meal etc.

Our families are our first ministry unto the Lord. Our service to them teaches them how to serve, as well as, demonstrates our love to them. We have a great example, lets follow it. 

Serve wholeheartedly, as if we were serving the Lord, not men.  Ephesians 6:7 

How will you serve your family joyfully today?

Devoted to God

You've probably heard it said before, a family that prays together stays together.  What a privilege it is to be able to connect with our creator. To speak to the one who spoke us into existence and know that he's interested in what we have to say. 

What about God's unfailing word?  To be able to read a book of love letters that speak of our creator God that pursued us to the death. The death of His own son.  What a love story,  doesn't that just blow your mind! 

Now what do you suppose God feels when we come as a family unit, under his covering, and seek him out through prayer and his word? I think it's probably pretty special to Him.

I love this scripture an it's comparison... 
Psalm 1: 1-3
Blessed is the one...
 whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.


When I think of a close strong family this is what I imagine...  a family that isn't uprooted during turbulent times but its roots are firm into a solid foundation receiving what it needs to thrive. The same way a tree is bound to have a storm come up against it, families are bound to face trials. 

So how are your family's roots?  Are they planted firmly and being well nourished?  Or are they dehydrating and withering?

Spiritual nourishment is found in devotion. 
A family devoted to God:

Puts him first.

Acknowledges who's the real boss of the home.

Makes decisions after seeking The Lord's guidance

Cultivates a home based on the laws of the Lord

They know their joy is in The Lord and 

Renew their strength in Him.

And when the storms come they are ready to face them.

Confession.  We don't always live there.  We want to, but at times we fail.  So what do we do?  We get back down (on our knees that is) and try again.

Family devotions are a great way to get your family staying connected to God  through his word as well as through prayer. They are also as unique as well... families!  

We've done them at the start of our day, the end of our day, during the day  and we've never been disappointed.  Whatever the time, God meets us.  And our days and nights are more peaceful.

We change the format of what we do, from time to time, to keep it from becoming routine.  Here are some ideas of what we've done:

Used devo books to guide us in keeping it interesting for the kids.

Read a chapter of the bible and discussed it.

Listened to a dramatized audio version and discuss it at the end.

Let the kids read scripture verses and allowed them to give a little 
message on how they would apply it to their lives.  (This one gets 
interesting and a lot of discussion comes out of it)

We also like to add praise time into our devos.  We sing songs we know from memory, use video tracks or the kids play the piano and guitar and we all sing along.

Devos can be done anywhere. In the family room, around the kitchen table, or outside under the stars. The choice is yours...get creative!

By connecting to the Lord and submitting ourselves to Him, we draw closer together as a family.  We experience ah-ha moments as we uncover God's truth for ourselves both individually and as a family.  

Family devotionals can never be replaced by church programs or school teachings.  As parents we have a God-given responsibility to train a child in the way he should go...  Proverbs 22:6 

What do you try to do to keep your family devoted to God?