Making Your Home A Fall Challenge

Hello dear blogging friends I am so excited that my friend Courtney is having her 6 Annual  Fall Challenge again over at her blog   Women Living Well  and I definitely will be participating.......Each week Courtney will give you one practical tip and one spiritual tip that you can do to create a haven in your home. This challenge will begin next Wednesday October 7th and run through the month of October.

Here is what Courtney has to say about her Fall Challenge:
 
Welcome to the 6th Annual “Making Your Home a Haven” Fall Challenge!

If you’ve been around a while – you know all about this series and might already have your candle going right now!  I can’t believe we have been doing this for 6 years – it’s been such a life changer!

I have been lighting my candle all winter, spring and summer long. It’s my daily habit to light my kitchen candle and then say a prayer for peace in our home.

Oh friends, we don’t want to just read God’s word – we want to live out God’s word in our homes first and then outside the home where God has planted us.

This challenge is all about living out the word of God within the four walls of our home.

Each week I will give you one practical tip and one spiritual tip that you can do to create a haven in your home.

Is your calendar full? Do you feel tense, rushed and even panicked at times? Do you feel like the rest of the family is feeling the same way?

I believe we can create a physical environment, as well as a spiritual environment, that can bring peace, harmony and a sense of calmness to our homes if we are willing to be intentional.

 This challenge will run through the month of October on Wednesdays and this video I use yearly, explains the heart and plan behind it.  If you’ve never watched it – please do and if you have but need a refresher course – check it out again!  I hope it blesses you!

(you can’t see the video: click here)

“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” ~ Proverbs 14:1

Here’s the topic schedule:

Week 1: October 7th -Go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home.

I will be starting mine in the morning but you can start yours at dinner time or whenever is convenient for you. I will be placing mine in the kitchen – the main hub of my home. Each time the candle catches your eye, say a prayer for peace in your home.

Live out the fruit of the Spirit of peace and patience this week.

Week 2: October 14th – Play soft music everyday in your home.

Choose worship, classical, jazz or another form of peaceful music that the family enjoys. Focus on using peaceful words and maintaining peaceful relationships.

Live out the fruit of the Spirit of gentleness and self-control this week.

Week 3: October 21st – Keep the candle burning, the music playing and plan a Family Fun Night.

Have a pillow party in the family room and get out every blanket and pillow in the house and be cozy with the kids or your hubby! Even if you live alone you can do this. Enjoy a cozy evening of hot cider and caramel corn. Bust out some old fashioned games and take the time to savor these moments with your loved ones.

Live out the fruit of the Spirit of kindness and joy this week.

Week 4: October 28th – Focus on the kitchen, the heart of the home.

Cook things with pleasant aromas like homemade bread, pies, and cookies. Don’t wait to have a reason to make something special – do it simply to show love to your family. Invite your kids and/or hubby to cook along side of you – make memories in the kitchen – test tasting, being creative, laughing and loving. Remember the importance of dinner time around the table as a family.

Live out the fruit of the Spirit this week by showing

love, goodness and faithfulness to your family.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” ~ Galatians 5:22,23

You may notice that our spiritual emphasis this year is again on the fruit of the Spirit.  There is no magic in the lighting of a candle, soft music, game nights or comfy food – it is the power of the Holy Spirit working through us that will transform our homes into a haven for everyone who passes through our doors, so the light of Jesus can shine brightly.

Will you take the challenge?