Many women who work full-time tell me there is no possible way they can come home and be a stay-at-home mother. They wouldn't be able to make ends meet on just their husband's income. Here is one woman who makes it work ~
I
have been a stay-at-home mom for almost five years now. We have three children
with the youngest being four years old. I have had people ask me constantly when I
am going back to work or if I will go back when our daughter starts
kindergarten. Our answer is, "No I won't be going back."
When my husband and I first got married
we were kids ourselves, ages eighteen and twenty years old with a baby. We both worked to put food
on the table. Our marriage started to crumble because I didn't trust him to do
enough to provide and I was working as many hours as I could to make sure the
bills were paid. Eventually, our marriage was falling apart and it wasn't
until after that God gave me a clear picture that I trust Him enough to
provide for our family without me working outside of the home.
It took quite a few years, but we took the leap of
faith and we watched God provide at every turn. He provided my husband with his
dream career which provides for us. We aren't rich by any stretch of the imagination,
but we are comfortable and provided for. Women ask me all the time, "What if
your husband leaves you?" I'm not worried about this happening. My husband and I have been
together since we were kids.
Our marriage is planted in the Word of God. People ask
me, "What if your husband dies?" My husband has done the responsible thing and has
taken out enough life insurance so that in the event something happens to him, the kids and I are not out in the cold and I can continue being there for our
children.
Is staying home always easy? No. My husband works multiple jobs to
make sure that we are provided for. It is however, worth it. In letting my
husband provide, I have seen his confidence flourish over the last few years
and I have seen him go after opportunities because he wants to make us proud.
He wants to be a good provider.
God tells us in His Word that none of His commands are burdensome {1 John 5:3}. We are told He owns the cattle on a thousand hills {Psalm 50:10}. He reminds us that nothing is impossible with Him {Luke 1:37} and that He does more than we can ever hope or imagine {Ephesians 3:20}. Are you willing to take God at His Word, trust Him, and obey Him? Are you willing to take a leap of faith?
There are many adjustments in your life that you can do to make this happen for you. Live in a smaller home. Fix food from scratch. Make your own cleaning products. Hang your laundry. Don't eat out {you have no idea what they are putting in your food any ways}. Vacation at home. Color your own hair and do your own nails, if you do this. Buy used clothing and wear it until it is used up. Buy furniture on Craigslist. Live simply and godly. Be in the Word and in prayer daily. Love Jesus and make Him the Lord of your life and home.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Luke 1:37
Logging you in...
Guest · 455 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 455 weeks ago
HappyHomemaker · 455 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 455 weeks ago
washingwords 13p · 455 weeks ago
Occasionally the concerns of provision occupy our minds briefly, but we believe that when two people are completely surrendered to The Lord's plan for marriage roles that He will provide. Since we have established our plans The Lord has given us wisdom on how to budget, save and live off of very little. We have actually been able to pay off roughly $10,000 in debt over the last 8 months. We are completely free credit card debt thank God, and we're going to keep it that way.
It's amazing the things I have found out that I don't "need" through this process. Some examples are: we don't eat out, we rarely pay full price for anything, we only get haircuts a couple times a year, I don't wear makeup or go get my nails done (cosmetic expenses and caving to the pressures of vanity can be a huge waste of money) we don't have cable TV, I've learned the art of couponing, etc. We do spend a lot of time with our families, reading, writing, listening to podcasts and other things that don't really cost anything. The great thing is we are really happy this way. Neither of us feels that we lack anything. I used to spend money very differently, but now I have learned that it really is possible to live without all of these things I thought I "needed", and still be happy!!
Lori Alexander 122p · 455 weeks ago
Kelley · 455 weeks ago
I was recently asked to lead a ladies meeting for a local church here on Guam. We enjoyed a potluck dinner in one of the ladies' homes. Half of us were 40 and younger and at 55 I was probably the oldest of the 40 and older. I asked the younger set to each share a hope/dream they had. A hope, I explained, is something that, if it can be had, it will be, and a dream is a vision, a goal, an idea. One unwed mother hopes, she said, to get married to a godly man. An Air Force military bride and mother of two teen boys said she dreams of saying, "I have my GED." What one expectant wife said, who has a master's degree and is a teacher, struck a cord with me and every other wife and mother in the room. Tearfully she told us she dreams to go back home full time and be a better wife and a good mother to their soon-three children. Another young wife who recently went back home full time said she dreams of being a counselor for marriage relationships. When this young wife's marriage was on shifting sand due to her own attitude toward her husband, she submitted herself to no one else and nothing else but the Word of God. With her own two hands she has rebuilt her house, and her marriage to her unsaved husband has never been better.
Next we discussed concerns and fears. I explained that a concern is something that worries us, and may even cause sleeplessness or a change in appetite, and a fear is a distressing emotion that makes us afraid of impending danger, evil or pain. Many young women feared their families would not be ready to meet the Lord's return for His Bride. The young wife who wants to help other troubled marriages said she is afraid she is not sheltering her children enough from the worldly influences they get at school. Another young woman said she was afraid she will never get married and have children.
After we aged women over 40 listened to the younger women, I asked each of us to share some gold nuggets. Your post today, Lori, is similar to one of the ladies' testimonies. I know so many women are struggling in marriages with unsaved husbands and even Christian husbands who have, like their wives, believed society's lies to them about how they should "do" marriage and family. After all the wonderful testimonies were shared (LOTS of tears), I read Connie Hultquist's testimony about bringing her husband back home. The sweetest presence of the Lord came into the room. Oh, the power of the testimony of a woman who has been to the other side of answered prayers! In conclusion, we realized that the vein that was the scarlet cord through every victory is the power of prayer. Prayer, prayer, prayer. Young women, aged women, if we will pray, and submit to God's way, His timing, His Word, we will win every time. Do on earth what you can do in obedience and He is bound by His promise to do in Heaven what only He can do. I've seen it happen too often for anyone to convince me otherwise. Oftentimes prayers must even be coupled by fasting like Widow Connie Hultquist did. Some battles won't be won any other way. There's a lovely song I'm requested to sing and often (I think Dawn Thomas wrote it?), "I've Been Through Enough to Know He'll Be Enough for Me."
My heart is full today, Lori. I've been married for 35 years. (The first two decades of that were pretty rotten because of my own attitude.). Our firstborn is 32 years old and I've been at home for 31 years. My choices, my prayers, my thrift, my own two hands, my preferring my husband, my practicing in the mirror, "OK," (that was my gold-- Practice "OK" in a sweet tone of voice and with a smile), my cooking, cleaning and puttering, my investments in the Word every day, my building up my man, my giving my man my body that is not my own but his, my relationship with God and with my husband and our children today makes it worth it all.
*hugs* to all the wives who dream of going back home,
Kelley~
Lori Alexander 122p · 455 weeks ago
It's ironic you spoke about the power of prayer. With everything going on in my country, I went to the women in the chat room and told them we must lift up the policemen and pray for courage and protection for them. Their morale is so low and many are fearful but without them, our country is left unprotected from those who want to harm us. The prayers of the righteous accomplish much and He hears our prayers.
When I wake in the middle of the night and am troubled by something, I pray. I hand it all over to the Lord and peace invades me. Then I can easily fall back to sleep. What a God we serve that we can come to His throne room at any time!
girlwithadragonflytattoo 36p · 455 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 455 weeks ago
Kelley · 455 weeks ago
You are very kind. Write a post on my earlier comment if you like. You once wrote a post on my desire to be my husband's doormat. Amen!
Yes, we are American missionaries appointed to Micronesia in the Pacific Region (Republic of Palau; Guam, USA; Northern Mariana Islands; Federated States of Micronesia; Marshall Islands). We have lived either in the Philippines or somewhere in Micronesia for 15 years.
Trusting God involves taking our hopes, dreams, concerns and fears to the altar and casting our cares upon Him. I am not on Facebook or other social media anymore but I am grateful you are encouraging those you influence to pray. I did see the Dallas Police Chief's face as he was videoed to say, "We need your support." These Blue Lives are in a war. God will hear our prayers for our country and those who fight for our freedom and safety.
I once heard someone say to pray, as you do, when you can't sleep. "Lay your troubling matters in His hands because He's going to be up all night anyway." Indeed, WHAT A GOD WE SERVE!
*hugs*
Kelley~
Lori Alexander 122p · 455 weeks ago
Blessings to you! And hugs back! :)
Ann · 455 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 455 weeks ago
Mrs. G. · 455 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 455 weeks ago
katy010305 45p · 455 weeks ago
Anonymous · 455 weeks ago