Friday, January 22, 2010

Make Your Home a Haven: Morning Routine

How was your week establishing some time with our Lord? Walking through and praying over your haven? I'd love to hear your thoughts and please feel free to link up below!

I was so excited during my Quiet Time to read Proverbs 3:33,

"The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous."

I really enjoyed walking through our home and praying for each room, each person, each event and activity that takes place inside these walls. It was a special thing that I hope to repeat in the future.

My mind was captivated by how much Scripture adorns our home and I saw a few places that could use some! I love being surrounded by beauty, but when the beauty is also meaningful it is so very much better!


I was also reminded of this song ~ Prayer For Home by Fernando Ortega


Grant them peace, most precious gift of all
Keep the worried world far away and small
When they return, may quiet fill their souls,
Dearest Lord, keep them safe within it's walls.

May the stone be cool beneath their feet.
The canyon breezes circle soft and sweet
When darkness falls, the stars and opal moon
Find them wrapped in each other, ever warm.

Chorus:
May it be a refuge for their love,
A harbor for their deepest prayer.
May they come to flourish in the grove,
Grow ever nearer to You there.

Many a burdened friend in their company rises,
A heavy heart is soon released to fly.
May their table be blessed with laughter and with grace
And by the comfort of kinship be surprised.

Chorus

May the cold wind blow far from their front door
May the winter rains never bring them harm
May their hearthfires burn throughout the night
Grant them peace until morning's perfect light.

Chorus

How do you bring Scripture into your home?


So far, I'm following some of the basics that Crystal shared when she did the Make Your Home a Haven challenges. Establishing these good habits right off will serve us so well over the coming weeks!

Next week, we'll focus on having a morning routine and sticking with that each day. Over this weekend, you could spend some time pondering what your morning routine could look like if you don't have a routine for each morning established.

My morning routine looks like this:

6:00 ~ wake; exercise
6:25 ~ Quiet Time: Bible reading, prayer
6:45 ~ check e-mail; moderate comments on blog
7:00 ~ shower, dressed, bed made
7:30 ~ littles wake; breakfast
8:00 ~ empty dishwasher, dish drainer, put breakfast dishes away; start load of laundry
8:30 ~ help littles get dressed, teeth brushed, beds made
9:00 ~ begin school time

Now, this is an ideal morning routine for me! But, does this always happen? NO! I always do parts of this and lots of times I do all of it, yet I want to be more consistent. This week, I will work diligently at doing this routine every morning.

Do you have a morning routine? Things that you do every day to keep your home running smoothly - this is our challenge for next week!


8 comments:

Lisa said...

I love Fernando Ortega!

I am just going to say that I get up at 5 each day. Schedules are big with me. I function much better with them. However, that can be a vice too. God has showed me to have acceptance at what comes and peace has been much more full in my home! Sometimes I think he is screaming Psalm 46:10 at me!

Jennifer said...

You asked about ways to bring Scripture into our homes, and I thought of our friends who just built a house. They took very literally the verse about writing Scripture on your doorways. They wrote Scripture verses on the frame of their home before the actual walls went up. In fact, they had a group from our church come and do that as an act of blessing. I thought that was a great idea for anyone doing a new build.

rachel@thecupcakesprinklesinlife said...

I use the picture sides from my old lang calendars and type up verses each month and glue them on pretty papers onto the calendar pages. I then hand these on the front of my fridge. It is a nice way to recycle and have scripture where I will see it repeatedly.

*carrie* said...

Such a great song!

I don't recognize the sign with Phil 4:8 . . . that's a verse I've been focusing on as part of my current chapter in Calm My Anxious Heart (that's what my Bible study is reading).

Tracey said...

My best days start with a good morning routine. It helps keep order! Prayer and Word 1st, exercise, tidying, breakfast, and on a good day school by 9am.

I like to surround myself with word by having peaceful music playing and inspiring words on my walls.

Hattie said...

Monica,
I think I've told you before, but I will tell you again....Your blog is such an encouragement and joy to me, a sixty-something year old widow. Children are all so far away they do not get to visit often.(Except for one and I am thankful to have her close by.) Even so, several people do come thru my door as I love to have friends in. I do want my home to radiate joy, peace, and love and to glorify Christ. I want to incorporate more scripture in my house and also, have a prayer walk thru the rooms. Thank you for all your encouragement.
Blessings,
Hattie

Lisa @ Simply Things Family said...

Thanks for another great post. #1- I do not have enough Scripture around my house. At a Bible study one time, we asked...What would a stranger think upon entering your home? Would they know you are a Christian?
This has made me more aware of what people see in my home and the reflection of my life.
#2-I need help with mornings. Looking forward to next weeks posts.

~katie~ said...

I just linked to this post in my post today about Scriptures around our home! Lovely displays you have here. I love the ideas you brought forth in this post. As always, very inspiring...thanks Monica!

Blessings,
Katie