What is a Christian
Homemaker?
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Loraine awakens from a restful night’s sleep at
promptly 6:00am. She turns off her alarm, makes
her bed as she’s getting out of it, and sits down to
do her morning Bible reading and to have some
quiet time with the Lord.
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Then, she goes to her well-organized closet, pulls
out a beautiful cotton dress, and slips it on. Next,
she goes into the bathroom, and does her hair
nicely, and puts a small dab of perfume on her
wrists.
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She then helps her younger children with their
room chores, and then gets a delicious breakfast of
whole-wheat pancakes, fresh strawberries, and
milk ready for the morning meal.
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Her children help her clean up the kitchen after
each meal with no fuss; they do it together, and
consider it fun.
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Lorain’s afternoons are spent doing cleaning chores
with her children, working on personal projects,
and homeschooling her children.
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Her evenings after dinner are often spent playing
cards, or taking walks with her family, and taking
turns reading aloud from good books.
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After Lorain tucks her children in for bedtime, she
snuggles up to her husband, as he adoringly looks
down at her, and tells her how much he loves her.
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A Christian homemaker is a Christian woman who
not only takes loving care of her husband, children,
and house, but is also the element that makes her
house a home.
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A Christian homemaker has true joy flooding her
heart, because she is living her God-given role, and
she is confident about that role, because it is laid
out in the Bible.
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In the next chapter of this book we will look at
two key scriptures that all Christian homemakers
should know by heart.
These scriptures will reveal
to you what the jobs of a true Christian homemaker are.
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Key Scriptures for the
Christian
Homemaker to Live
By
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To be sober, to love their husbands, to love
their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at
home, good, obedient to their own husbands,
that the word of God be not blasphemed.
– Titus 2:4b-5
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She looketh well to the ways of her household,
and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her
children arise up, and call her blessed; her
husband also, and he praiseth her.
– Proverbs31:27-28
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There are many scriptures in the Bible, Old
Testament, and New Testament, which speak of
the duties of the Christian homemaker. I have
chosen the two above scriptures, because they are
my favorites, and carry a lot of meaning to many
Christian homemakers worldwide.
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I believe that the KJV Bible is the inerrant Word of God.
I also believe that every word in the KJV
Bible is inspired. Because of my believing this, it
has enabled me to study the Bible on such a more
deeper, intimate level: Word-by-Word.
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Let’s take another look at the first key scripture:
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To be sober, to love their husbands, to love
their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at
home, good, obedient to their own husbands,
that the word of God be not blasphemed. –
Titus 2:4b-5
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From giving close heed to each word in the above
scripture, we can conclude that the following are
some of the duties of the Christian homemaker:
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-She is to be sober…
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This means she is not to become intoxicated, nor abuse drugs.
However, soberness is also a state of
mind. If we are not sober-minded, then Satan can
wrap his hands right around our necks:
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Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the
devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking
whom he may devour -1 Peter 5:8
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To be sober-minded, one must have wisdom.
However, this wisdom needs to be Christian
wisdom, not worldly wisdom:
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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and
instruction.
– Proverbs 1:7
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-The Christian homemaker is to love her
husband…
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What type of love do you have for your husband?
Many women have the “feeling,” but do they show
it via actions? You’ve heard the saying “actions
speak louder than words.” Well, here is another
true saying for you: “Actions speak much louder
than feelings.”
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This is partly why the KJV Bible sometimes uses
the word “charity” when describing love.
“Charity” does not just mean ‘giving to the poor.’
It means love in action – love no longer
functioning as a noun, but as a verb.
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You may be “feeling” love for your husband all of
the time – but does he know about it?
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-The Christian homemaker is to love her children…
All Christian mothers love their children, right?
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Noun-love is something that is hidden to outside
observation. Charity-love is love in action.
Are you feeling love for your children, while
outwardly your actions are saying “leave me
alone,” “go play,” “can’t I ever get a break from
you?” Where is the charity love? This is the action
love that says, “I want to teach you how I did that,” “I want to spend my days with you,
because I love being with you,” “I want you to grow up in
the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord so that you
can have the best life possible.”
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Especially for those with young children, it can be
quite easy to send the kids out to run about the
neighborhood, or put them in front of the TV,
while you get your cooking and cleaning done.
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However, the charity-love way would be to include your children in your chores and duties with you.
Certainly it is easier to clean out the refrigerator
without little hands smearing the jelly drips you
are trying to wipe up. But you know what? It
may not seem like it now, but those little hands
will soon be big hands, and soon your children will
be grown.
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What did you teach them while they
were little? Did you teach them about the Lord, via charity love?
Did you teach them to be joyful, wise,
diligent workers for the Lord? Or did you teach
them escapism, via TV, music, video games, eating
junk food, etc.?
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-The Christian homemaker is to be discreet
There are many facets to being discreet, and
certainly a whole book could be written on just
that alone. In this book we will hone in on a few
parts of being discreet.
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First off, how do you talk? Is your voice loud,
harsh, and unladylike? What types of words do
you use in your every day vocabulary? Do you use
gutter words, such as “zit,” “shoot,” “that sucks,”
etc.?
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The Bible is clear that we are not to have any
form of filthy communication:
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
– Proverbs 4:24
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The tongue is a very hard thing to control:
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that
they may obey us; and we turn about their whole
body. Behold also the ships, which though they be
so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are
they turned about with a very small helm,
whither soever the governor listeth. Even so the
tongue is a little member, and boasteth great
things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire
kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of
iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that
it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the
course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For
every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents,
and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been
tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and
therewith curse we men, which are made after the
similitude of God. Out of the same mouth
proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these
things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send
forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries?
either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield
salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and
endued with knowledge among you? let him shew
out of a good conversation his works with
meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying
and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not
against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not
from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For
where envying and strife is, there is confusion and
every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above
is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be
intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without
partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of
righteousness is sown in peace of them that make
peace. –James 3:3-18
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Another key to being discreet is in how we walk
and stand. Do you slouch? When you walk, is it
ladylike? Always remind yourself to stand with
good posture, and to walk like a lady. Do this
even when no one is looking, for One is always
looking (God). Furthermore, if you practice good
posture and good walking all of the time (even
when you’re “alone,”) then it will be a habit when
you’re not alone, and when you’re possibly being
an example for others.
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Speaking of having a discreet appearance, do you
dress like a lady? Sure, you probably dress like a
woman, but do you dress like a lady? There is a
difference.
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If you don’t wear dresses, try it. See how feminine
you feel when you are wearing a beautiful,
flowing, and feminine modest dress. While you’re
at it, style your hair in a nice ladylike manner as
well. Notice how your whole attitude is different.
Notice how you feel. There is something to it, isn’t
there?
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Changing the way you look affects your
attitude… Do you have a discreet attitude? Do
you exude an attitude of being a saved Christian,
full of joy? Or do you drip of being “overworked,”
“tired,” or maybe even the “martyr?”
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What type of expressions do you typically show
the world with your face? Is it a smile, or is it a
“leave me alone” glare? Christians are commanded
to be a light for Christ. Does your attitude, speech,
posture, walk, clothes, and facial expressions
reflect your being a light for Christ? Or do they
make you appear as “Frump-Woman from the
Home Labor Camp?”
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-Christian homemakers are to be chaste…
According to http://www.dictionary.com “chaste”
means – Morally pure in thought or conduct;
decent and modest.
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I’d have to say that I find this definition accurate
to what the Bible teaches us about being chaste.
How is your thought life and conduct? Remember,
it is not enough to speak with pure lips, and act
discreet, one must also have chaste thoughts:
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that
which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a
meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God
of great price. –1 Peter 3:4
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Casting down imaginations, and every high thing
that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the
obedience of Christ; -2 Corinthians 10:5
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These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven
are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a
lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet
that be swift in running to mischief, A false
witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth
discord among brethren. -Proverbs 6:16-19
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-The Christian homemaker is to be a keeper at home
To be a keeper at home, you must be at home. You
should not be running errands all of the time, or
out “getting stuff handled.” Certainly there are
days when we need to get groceries, pay bills, stop
at the post office, go to the book store or library,
but these days should not be the majority of our
days. How can one keep their home, if they are
rarely in it?
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Home should be a place of comfort, joy, relaxation,
and other good things. It should be a place that
you take refuge in; your family’s own “world,” so
to speak. Nothing can take the place of that sense
of security the family gets when they come through
the door, and mom is there to greet them.
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Keeping the home is the main duty of a Christian
homemaker in a nutshell. This is why I chose the
URL http://www.keepingthehome.com to house
my webpage. Keeping the home means taking care
of your husband and children, cooking delicious
and nutritious meals, and keeping the house clean
and orderly.
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-The Christian homemaker is to be good
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Ladies, we must watch our behavior. This also
goes for our reactions to things we may see and
hear. Being good means being a good Christian
with a good attitude. Don’t forget to apply
biblical wisdom to your everyday life.
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-The Christian homemaker is to be obedient to her
husband
Notice that the scripture we are studying mentions
the husband twice. We are to love him, and to be
obedient to him.
Being obedient to one’s husband is hard for many
women to swallow in today’s world. Feminism is
so internally steeped into the public school system
and everyday life, that often when one hears “be
obedient to your husband,” they may picture a
mindless slave, or a doormat.
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To all good government systems, there is a type of
hierarchy. This is by God’s design, even though
many countries have perverted that system. Proper
hierarchies make for order and calmness to ensue.
The Bible gives a hierarchy for the family unit as
well:
But I would have you know, that the head of
every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is
the man; and the head of Christ is God.
– 1 Corinthians 11:3
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God is the head of Christ, and Christ is the head of
the husband, and the husband is the head of the
wife. Meanwhile, the wife is to train and direct
her children when her husband is at work. When
the husband is home from work, the wife is still to
train and direct her children, but to never thwart
her husband’s authority.
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Certainly husbands are not perfect, and neither are
wives. Your imperfect husband has probably made
poor decisions in the past. Obviously you can
discuss it with him (privately, and not in front of
the children), and show him your point of view,
but you are not to “lord it over him.” The husband
is the one ordained, via God’s Word, to wear the
pants in the family, not the wife. It’s important
that the chain of command be respected. This will
teach the children to respect God as their authority
when they are grown.
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The chain of command may be broken in extreme
cases, where the woman must act in order to
protect herself or the children. This is the last
resort. Many times something can be worked out,
as per the woman’s following the helps given in
such books like Created to be His Helpmeet, and
Fascinating Womanhood.
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As a rule:
being right, or having the best course of
action, is not as important as the peace in the
household that ensues from submitting to God’s
way of doing things.
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Many women think that since women are to
submit to their husbands, that this means men and
women are not equal.
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The Bible says otherwise:
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There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for
ye are all one in Christ Jesus. -Galatians 3:28
Therefore, it’s not about “equality,” it’s about
roles. It is a way to solve disagreements, or avoid
them in the first place.
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God created men and women differently, therefore,
they have different jobs to do in their lifetimes.
Women are not the same as men, and when
feminists try to obtain “equality,” what they are
really doing, is trying to make women into men, by
getting women to follow the man’s role, instead of
the woman’s role.
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If the thought of submitting to your husband
leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, then
stop to consider what you are making it all mean in
your head; how are you interpreting it?
Submitting to one’s husband is a God ordained
blessing. Wives were created to be their husband’s
help meets. Our husbands need us.
She looketh well to the ways of her household,
and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her
children arise up, and call her blessed; her
husband also, and he praiseth her.
–Proverbs 31:27-28
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-The Christian homemaker is to not be idle
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If your idea of fun, is to sit around and “rest,”
then maybe you need to look into how much idle
time you have each day.
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Granted, there are seasons in life where a wife
must get more rest, such as when she is pregnant or
ill.
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However, the usual day should find the homemaker
busy, working on projects to better the home,
cooking, cleaning, training and raising her children,
loving on her husband, etc.
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Homemaking is never an idle job. It is one filled
with work (and sometimes hardships) but it is also
one filled with fulfillment, and the satisfaction of
seeing the benefits of a job well done.
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The homemaker takes care of her home, and those
in it. She does it willingly, lovingly, and joyfully.
In concluding this chapter, I will list a few of the
blessings of being a good homemaker, as taken from
Proverbs 31:27-28
-Her children love and respect her and “call her
blessed.”
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-Her husband compliments and praises her.
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-She and her family are happy and fulfilled
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Add These Routines to your Daily Life:
1. Make sure you and your children are nicely
dressed before breakfast every morning. Also
make sure all rooms are clean, and all beds
made.
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2. After each meal, do the dishes, wipe down
your table and counters, and sweep the floor.
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3. Before you go to bed each night, walk
through your house and tidy it up. Straighten
things, put things away, make sure your dishes
are done, etc.
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A few of the ways to show your love for your
family are to provide delicious meals, a clean
house, and to don a big smile.
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Blessings!
Amanda
For more about this article, go to
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Thank you, keepingthehome, for a great article.
My Mom says that when she was a girl they used to tie a string around the leg of a June Bug and swing it around over their heads -- they make a great buzzing sound! No, I've never personally tried this -- my boys aren't bug lovers -- but it sure makes you realize how creative kids used to be in making their own fun in the days before TV and video games.