The Heart of a Servant: Lessons from Luke 1:38

I am a planner, but my days rarely go as planned. Interruptions and needs pop up that never made it onto my task list or calendar, and in a moment my whole day can change. So what does faithfulness look like when the day God has given me isn’t the day I planned? In this episode, I share what God’s Word teaches about His providence in our ordinary days as homemakers: why we still plan if God is in control, how to know when an interruption needs our attention, what God is doing when our day changes, and how to entrust the unfinished work to the Lord and rest in Christ’s finished work for us. This is also episode 200 of the podcast! Thank you so much for being here with me and for all the ways you’ve encouraged me along the way. Head over to ThankfulHomemaker.com for full show notes on all the links and resources mentioned in today’s episode. RESOURCES MENTIONED:Trusting God by Jerry BridgesCrazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung RELATED EPISODES:EP 197: A Few Truths to Remember When Trials ComeEP 184: Putting Off and Putting On: Walking by the Spirit in Everyday LifeEP 188: Biblically Caring for Our Aging Parents MORE RESOURCES: Homemaking Matters: Living for God's Glory in the Ordinary Join Thankful Homemaker for access to the Free Library of Resources Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App Join the Thankful Homemaker Facebook Group Follow Thankful Homemaker on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest & Instagram Online Courses & Printables Thankful Homemaker Merchandise Buy Marci a Cup of Coffee xo

What happens when we’ve shared our thoughts honestly, but our husband still makes a decision we wouldn’t have made? Can we follow his lead and continue to treat him with kindness, or do we keep making our case because we want him to change his mind? In this episode, we’re looking at the warnings in Proverbs about a quarrelsome wife and how they apply in the ordinary disagreements of marriage. We’ll also talk about why simply moving on after we’ve been unkind isn’t the same as repenting. And when the Lord shows us our sin, there is forgiveness and help for us in Christ. Head over to ThankfulHomemaker.com for full show notes on all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode. Homemaking Matters: Living for God's Glory in the Ordinary Costi Hinn Message & Article: Sermon: Till Death Do Us Part: "Is she a crown or contentious?" Article: Are You a Contentious Wife? RELATED EPISODES: EP 186: Encouraging Your Husband’s Leadership in the Home with Doug Ferrell EP 179: Encouraging Your Husband: Biblical Wisdom for Building Him Up with Grace 40 Week Husband Encouragement Challenge (Free Printable PDF for wives) RESOURCES: Join Thankful Homemaker for access to the Free Library of Resources Follow ThankfulHomemaker on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest & Instagram Join the Thankful Homemaker Facebook Group Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App Online Courses & Printables Thankful Homemaker Merchandise Buy Marci a Cup of Coffee xo

It can be so easy to think we would be more content if something in our circumstances would just change, or maybe if someone in our life would change. I see this in my own heart so often. I can know all the right verses about contentment and still find myself grumbling when things don’t go the way I hoped. I’m thankful Paul reminds us in Philippians 4 that contentment is something he learned. The Lord taught him through the circumstances He brought into his life, and He teaches us in much the same way. In this episode, we’re looking at Philippians 4:11–13 and what it looks like to learn to be content in Christ right where the Lord has us. ❤️ Head over to ThankfulHomemaker.com for full show notes on all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode. Homemaking Matters: Living for God's Glory in the Ordinary RELATED EPISODES: EP 191: Holding Our Expectations with Grace: When People Disappoint Us Learning Contentment RESOURCES: Join Thankful Homemaker for access to the Free Library of Resources Follow ThankfulHomemaker on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest & Instagram Join the Thankful Homemaker Facebook Group Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App Online Courses & Printables Thankful Homemaker Merchandise Buy Marci a Cup of Coffee xo

Trials are not something any of us would choose. Our first response is often to ask the Lord to remove them, and it is right to bring those requests to Him. But James 1:2–4 reminds us that God has a good purpose for us even while the trial remains. In this episode, we’re walking through a few simple truths from this passage about how the Lord uses trials to strengthen our faith and make us more like Christ. Head over to ThankfulHomemaker.com for full show notes on all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode. Leave an Amazon Review of Homemaking Matters Homemaking Matters: Living for God's Glory in the Ordinary RELATED EPISODES: Encouragement on Difficult Days Trusting God in Your Trials RESOURCES: Join Thankful Homemaker for access to the Free Library of Resources Follow ThankfulHomemaker on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest & Instagram Join the Thankful Homemaker Facebook Group Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App Online Courses & Printables Thankful Homemaker Merchandise Buy Marci a Cup of Coffee xo

Maybe summer threw your routines off a bit, or life has just been full, and you’ve realized you haven’t been spending as much time in God’s Word as you’d like. I’m raising my hand here with you because it’s where I’ve found myself recently. Sometimes the Bible reading plan that worked for us in one season just isn’t working in another. Maybe we need to simplify things a bit. Pick a time, pick a place, and pick a plan—and if you’ve gotten behind, you don’t have to catch up on everything you missed. We don’t need the perfect plan or the perfect morning. We can just open our Bibles and begin again today. ❤️ Head over to ThankfulHomemaker.com for full show notes on all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode. Homemaking Matters: Living for God's Glory in the Ordinary RELATED EPISODES: EP 95: Developing a Daily Bible Reading Habit EP 53: Daily Bible Reading (Spiritual Disciplines Series) RESOURCES: Join Thankful Homemaker for access to the Free Library of Resources Follow ThankfulHomemaker on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest & Instagram Join the Thankful Homemaker Facebook Group Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App Online Courses & Printables Thankful Homemaker Merchandise Buy Marci a Cup of Coffee xo