Tuesday, March 22, 2011

The Homekeeper's Journal 3/22/11



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Unity


In my Kitchen this week: My husband has been working at Chinese and Indian recipes lately. There's always new tastes and smell happening!! I got to make a lasagna for someone who just moved and send it their way. That was fun! I hope to make another meal for them tomorrow but can't decide what it will be... I am grilling more and more. 


In my Household Plans this week: I am working on keeping the sand off the floors! It's mud/sand season. So, lots of vacuuming and washing of floors. I am not getting too far with decluttering. I really hope to get more time for that.


My off the cuff definition of Unity: Unity is what occurs when I choose to love someone with the love of God over being right or having my way.  


My favorite unity section is: "Therefore, as God's chose people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14


It's that easy and that hard!!


The opposite of Unity: Disunity, Separation of mind and heart.


Unity in my Home: It means we're all working together, working through our issues. It means living out an agreement of what is important and what are our goals. It only happens as our walk with God is living and active and we are all keeping short accounts in repentance with God and each other. Without unity, a house doesn't feel like a home. It's miserable for everyone!


Unity in my Church:  It's very much the same as unity in our family. Sometimes, though, disunity is unavoidable and brings a NEEDED separation. 1 John 2:19 says:  "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For it they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that not of them belonged to us." 



Between a Husband and Wife, Unity: Is a great challenge because you are so, so close. When you have it, it's AMAZING!! One advantage my husband and I had is that we attended and graduated from the same Bible College and had the same teachers and came out with pretty identical beliefs. Still there have been challenges, such as decisions in child rearing and ministry decisions. But starting with the same beliefs and philosophies sure has helped! And as we get older and more mature and grow together it is easier and we are better at not picking so many battles. Beth Moore's husband said in an interview that he had to get to a place in his marriage where he truly did NOT want to hurt his wife more than he WANTED to be right! Wisdom!!! 

6 comments:

  1. What a wonderful post, Karen, and so true. Unity is crucial is our lives and in our walk with the Lord. I've found that in order to have this unity we must all be willing to give...and to forgive. Hope you and your family have a blessed week!
    ~Laura
    P.S. I know what you mean about mud! We live on a dirt road!

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  2. You are so right, Laura!! P.S. I live on a dirt road too!! :)

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  3. Have you heard my husband describe the difference between union and unity?

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  4. No, Laurie, I haven't but I'd love to hear more. :)

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  5. Thank you so much for sharing. We live on the lowest point on our block and if it sprinkles it seems like the yard floods. We had a storm this past weekend and the puddles were three inches deep in the back yard. The girls loved it. My poor washing machine and floors did not.

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  6. Crissyanna, my daughter would have loved that when she was younger!! She always played in the puddles. But boy, I understand about the laundry!! YIKES!! ;)

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