What's It Going to Be?

This past week Beth sent us a link to a blog that four housewives contribute to and one of their posts got me thinking, so I'm borrowing it and using it for my post.

Have you ever tried to start something new, whether it be a new hobby or making your bed everyday or even reading your Bible and praying everyday? I have always heard that if you can get past the first 30 days of doing something then you have developed a habit of actually doing it. So as today starts November and there are 30 days in November, I figure now is a good time as any to work on a few things and hopefully make a habit out of them. I'm trying to decide what to do though...I don't want to overwhelm myself in the first month and give up by week two. Plus, I want to make sure that what I'm doing has a positive change in my life. So, here is what I have come up with:

1. Getting up early enough in the morning to where I have time to shower, get ready fully (I am one of those women you see driving to work and putting on her makeup...bad, I know), and leave so that I get to work on time. This is going to be interesting because I just love to snooze...and especially since I'm pregnant and really love to sleep right now. I know I can do it though and this will certainly be a positive change because I won't be stressing about getting to work on time and I'll be paying attention to the road.

2. Reading Proverbs daily. I borrowed this from the blog and really liked the idea. What you do is read the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds with the date, so today I would start off by reading Proverbs 1. I realize there are 31 chapters in Proverbs, but as the writer of the blog noted (and I must say I very much agree) and I quote "how very thankful I am that every month does not have 31 days because that Proverbs 31 woman is too intimidating for me to read about every month!!" Oh to be the Proverbs 31 woman!!

3. Finally, I have decided to make it more of a priority to pray for my husband. I am going to be honest here and say that I don't pray for my husband as much as I should. Somehow I think that maybe I can change him and then get frustrated when it doesn't happen. Gee, I wonder why? I don't know how many times I've heard or read this, but it all comes down to giving him over to God. God reaffirmed this for me today during the sermon at church. Our pastor discussed the role of the woman in a marriage...always a fun topic if you ask me. :) He said that a woman's role fits the man's role and provides stability...we complement the man. He spoke from Ephesians 5:22-27 and said:

• A woman must learn to FIT. "Wives, be subject to your own husbands" - as we all are subject to Christ. (Colossians 3:18; 1 Peter 3:1; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Genesis 2:18)
• A woman must have FAITH. I need to get out of the way and let God do the work in my husband's life. God is the only one who can change him - I must believe/trust God to do what he can do. (1 Peter 3:5 - the women put their "hope in God.")
• A woman must learn to FOLLOW. I don't know about you but this one is hard for me, being the ever so independent person I am. "Wives should submit to their husbands in everything." I Peter 3:1-6. We are to 1) follow without contention; 2) follow without manipulation; and 3) follow without disrespect. Ephesians 5:33.

That concludes our sermon for the day. :) I feel I should clarify that I am not trying to change my husband, I am just aware that I need to be praying for him all the time. I love my husband and should be praying for every area of his life...that he will fulfill his God-given abilities and be the man he was created to be. It is an honor to pray for him.

So those are the three things I am going to be working on in the next month...hopefully I can report back with some good news by December. I challenge each of you to join me in developing a habit that will positively change your life (and maybe that of your spouse).

Cass

BTW, here's a link to the blog I was talking about: http://todayshousewife.blogspot.com/