Take Root and Write

Leadership ~ Find Your Strengths

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. (Psalm 18:32 NIV)

Welcome back to Mom Works at Home. This month we have been talking about "Leadership" and last time we got together we talked about the importance of "Reading".  Today, you're just in time to sit back and discuss with us about "Finding Your Strengths".

I pray that you are taking some time as we walk through this topic of "Leadership" to really unpack what that means to you as a Work at Home Mom. It's funny because a lot of people just don't realize how gifted you need to be to be a Work at Home Mom. Let's face it, it is not always easy or glamorous, but it is empowering!

When we're talking about "Finding Your Strengths" for the sake of "Leadership," I'm talking about those things that you do well. We each have an area of giftedness that was given to us as believers (Romans 12:6 NIV), but we also have skills and talents that we possess that we've learned over the years.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:4 NIV)

So, let's take a little time to unpack this "Leadership" suitcase for a minute. It is my hope that by taking the time to figure out what some of your strengths are that you will be able to better focus your purpose and passion.

Leaders are Readers

Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses. (Proverbs 21:1 TM)

Welcome back to Mom Works at Home. It has been an exciting couple of months and it is my prayer that you are growing in your walk with Him as you grow as a mom who works at home. This month we're talking specifically about "Leadership" and the principles you can apply to your life as you work from home.

At first glance you might jokingly say, "Why do I need to know about leadership, I am a work at home mom, who am I leading?" My answer may surprise you, but you are leading the very most important you can lead, yourself. It is so easy when you work at home to become complacent and almost stagnant in so many things. Which is why we spent January talking about "getting it together" in your schedule and your priorities then February we talked about "take care of you" by working on your quiet time and exercise regimen.

Leadership is something we all do each and every day and if we aren't careful we may end up spinning our wheels. Instead of actually going in the direction that we intend, or better yet, God intends for us, we don't know where we are going So, let's take some time today to sit down and chat about a very important "leadership" topic; reading.

Are you with me?

I heard an incredible statistic the other day. It said that over 80% of the population will never pick up a book after they graduate (college or high school). That just blows my mind. There is so much amazing information at our fingertips and 80% of the population is just going to sit back and let it slip through their fingers. A sure sign of a leader is someone who is reading. I always used to tell my ministry teams that "Leaders are readers, and readers always end up as a leader". I've seen it put into practice so many times.

Taking Care of You ~ Exercise

 

You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.  (1 Corinthians 6:20 NIV)

Eek!  When you saw the title today did you mentally "check out" in your head?  Come on, let's be honest.  When you think about being a Work-at-Home mom the first that came to your mind was not "exercise" was it?  Believe me, I am totally speaking to myself on this one as well...as a matter of fact, in this case the teacher is definitely the student.

That verse above in 1 Corinthians sums it up beautifully, doesn't it?

Now, hang with me here, because this is just too important for you to walk away from.  Everyone has to start somewhere, and for you that may be a different thing from me, but there are just too many studies out there that backup the benefits of exercise.
 
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. -Aristotle

Let's get real practical here.  This isn't something that takes a rocket scientist (thankfully, or I would be in big trouble) it just takes a little planning.  The good thing for you and me is this...we are Work-at-Home Moms and are used to planning our days so we can get some work done, right?  So, if we are already used to planning things then it is just a matter of "planning" some time to exercise.  The great thing is, that in January we talked a little bit about our schedule (if you missed it, click here to go back and check it out).

Taking Care of You ~ Quiet Time

 

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11 NIV)

Welcome back to Mom Works At Home!  I pray that last month you were able to work a little bit on your "schedule" and your "priorities" and have a better idea of what some of the most important things are in your life as you seek to be all He has created you to be.

Now that you have an understanding of schedules and priorities, for the month of February I would love to chat with you specifically about "Taking Care of You".  Ha, I heard you laugh out loud at that.  Come on, how on earth are you going to be all that God created you to be if you don't do what is needed to make that happen.  We're going to chat this week about your quiet time, then in two weeks we're going to be talking about exercise.

Oh no...don't check out on me here, come back, there's so much more to this.  I'm so not the expert on this, but I am a life-long learner and I want to share what I've learned over the years; then also balance it out with what God's Word says on the subject.  Does that sound fair?

"The income of God's Word is the outcome of a changed life." Ed Cole

So let's dig in, alright?

What does having an established quiet time have to do with being a Mom who Works At Home?  Chances are if you work at home that your kids are around at some point while you work, right? Do you really think that you can juggle all your work load without the power of the Almighty God?  Let's be real here, there's just too much to do in any given day and yet if we don't start our day with Him in His Word then how do we expect to get through as His best.

Getting it Together - Priorities

 

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. (Psalm 37:23 KJV)

I have to tell you that I have been jumping out of my skin so excited about talking with you about PRIORITIES.  I hope and pray that you were able to get a jump start this month on GETTING IT TOGETHER by working on your SCHEDULE a couple of weeks ago.

Today we're going to chat about your PRIORITIES.  I am so passionate about this for so many reasons, but to be able to share with you, my MOM WORKS AT HOME friends, makes it even more special.  You know why?  Because you, as Work at Home Moms, already get that one of your PRIORITIES are our families.  Right?

Before we get going, let's take a minute to look at the definition of "priority" to help us get our minds ready for what God is trying to show us.

pri⋅or⋅i⋅ty   (thanks to Dictionary.com)
 - the right to precede others in order, rank, privilege, etc.; precedence.
 - something given special attention.

I love this picture of the rocks in the vase and it is a perfect illustration of what we are going to talk about today...PRIORITIES!  We each get the same amount of time in each and every day and the same amount of days in a week.  Right?  Are you with me?  Good!

Our day looks a lot like this vase with rocks (but also visualize sand, shells, and smaller stones).  If you have a stack of rocks, sand, shells, and smaller stones, and want to put them all in the same vase you have many options in which you would put them.  The ORDER I put them in could be quite different than the ORDER you put them in, but we would have the same amount of "stuff".  Sure, your "stuff" would be different than mine, but you get the point.

Are you with me?

Getting it Together - Your Schedule

 

Commit your work to the LORD,and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3 ESV)

I just LOVE January, don't you? It's a fantastic time to start things new, fresh, and right.  It's a time of NEW beginnings and it's also a GREAT time for you and I, as WORK AT HOME MOMS, to GET IT TOGETHER!

This month you and I are going to unpack the suitcases of lessons we learned last year so we can apply them to this year.  As is says in Ecclesiastes 1:9, "there is nothing new under the sun," so let's figure out where we got off track last year and tweak it a bit so this year can be even better.

The two things we are going to focus on this month in "GETTING IT TOGETHER" are "Your Schedule" (1/13/09) and "Your Priorities" (1/27/09).  Mark your calendars now so you can make sure to come back and wrap this series up with us.

Blessed is the man who finds out which way God is moving and then gets going in the same direction. -Unknown

As WORK AT HOME MOMS it can be so easy for us to get distracted (as we've discussed here in the past), but we're starting NEW and fresh, right? So, what are some practical steps we can take to make sure we are GETTING IT TOGETHER in 2009.  The first thing we need to tackle is YOUR SCHEDULE!

Happy To Be a Work at Home Mom - Part 2

 

Welcome Back! OK, so, two weeks ago we talked a little bit about being happy (content) with being a Work at Home Mom.  I hope and pray that you took some time to really read through what we talked about, as well as claiming victory in the opportunity to actually be a Work at Home Mom.

Here's a quick little refresher about what we talked about earlier this month;

Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(That is one of my ABSOLUTE favorite verses...as a matter of fact it is my Mel's World with Melissa Mashburn ministry verse)

Ladies...you and I are called to be different.  So, why don't we start TODAY by taking that FIRST step in being HAPPY.

TO BE A WORK AT HOME MOM by learning to be more CONTENT!  You can do it...I know you can!

So, here we are two weeks later and I hope that even in the midst of the chaos that happens this time of year that we still have been able to STOP and celebrate the blessing of being Content to be Working at Home.

Happy to Be a Work at Home Mom

Philippians 4:10 (TM), "I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles."

In my study to prepare this week's column for you about being a Work at Home mom a couple of things hit me;

1) There was a sense of not being "Content" about being a Work at Home Mom, and
2) That there was a lot that we could talk about on this VERY topic.

So, with that being said...I would love to be able to take this concept "I'm Happy (Content) to be a Work at Home Mom" and tackle it this month in a two-part series.  There are so many things we could and should be grateful for this Christmas season (the birth of our Saviour being the first, last, and best thing about this time of year) that it also goes well for us (as Work at Home moms) to stop and count our blessings as well.

Whatever you are, be a good one. -Abraham Lincoln

I love that quote from Abraham Lincoln...I think we tend to forget, as Work at Home Moms (and women in general) that we don't have to be anything but who we are in Him.  So, answer this then, why is it so hard for us to accept the fact that we are indeed WORKING, we're choosing to Work from Home.  It's almost like we say it sheepishly.  We hem, we haw (that's the southerner in me coming out), and we dance around it, but why can't we just come right out and say it with excitement and joy! "I'm a Work at Home Mom!"

Clear out the Clutter

   

CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER

God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful—as beautiful on the inside as the outside. ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:6b (TM)

One of the things I have noticed a lot of Work at Home Moms get frustrated with is their work space.  Yes, being nterrupted, being sleepy, being distracted, and being ungrateful can all get in the way from having a wonderfully productive work day, but guess what...so can CLUTTER!

It's funny to me that something so simple can wreck your plans so quickly.

I don't know if it is just something we don't want to deal with, or it is inconvenient, or just too overwhelming, but sometimes our desks can look like a tornado blew through them and then we sit there and wonder why we feel like we didn't get anything accomplished that day.

Could it be because we couldn't find it?

All you need is deep within you waiting to unfold and reveal itself. All you have to do is be still and take time to seek for what is within, and you will surely find it. -Eileen Caddy

I love that verse in 1 Thessalonians 4:6b in The Message where it says that "God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life..."

Did you catch that?

it goes on to say "...but into something holy and beautiful - as beautiful on the inside as the outside."

Does your work space look like something holy and beautiful?

What BAD Attitude?

 

 Does your attitude stink?

Does it seem like no matter what gifts you have been given (writing, speaking, business, ministry, family)  that you just can't seem to have a good attitude?

It makes you want to break out in that song from Annie "It's a Hard Knocks Life for ME!", doesn't it?

Let me ask you this...is it really that bad?  I mean, think about it, if you are a Work at Home Mom (WAHM) then I would consider you to be blessed to have the option (or opportunity) to be able to work at home, be there with your kids, and also contribute your gifts, skills, and abilities to a job/business as well as make an impact on your family financial picture.  Right?

So, what is it about it that makes us get a "BAD ATTITUDE" while we Work at Home?

I personally think it is that Stinkin' Thinkin' that holds us back.  We get tired, distracted, out of balance, you name it and we know that we should be doing something for our businesses, but we just don't WANT TO!  I know this, for a fact, because the reality is that I deal with this too. 

When I catch myself (yes, we actually have to stop and catch ourselves doing this, because we can go a long time without even realizing we are doing this) I love to come back to this verse in Ephesians 4:23 (NLT) ~ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Sleep Tight

I Just Need a Little Sleep…
 
According to a little impromtu poll online at the Christian Women Take Root Group that goes along with this column, “Mom Works At Home”, one of the BIGGEST hindrances to our productivity and being effective as a Work at Home Mom is not getting enough SLEEP!
 
This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.' ~Jeremiah 6:16
 
As women we are so accustomed to doing and being for so many other people that we don’t stop long enough to realize that we need to take care of ourselves just as much.
 
I mean, let’s think about it.

• You stay up late (getting things done),
• Which leads you to get up late
• Which leads you to crank up the caffeine
• Which leads you to rush around frantic
• Which makes everyone cranky, irritable, and hard to deal with
• Which makes it almost impossible to focus or get work done
• Which leads to feelings of guilt.

Am I right, or am I right?

Distracted

Are you easily DISTRACTED?

Do you start to do your Work at Home Business and then get DISTRACTED by this that and the other?

I have to laugh because only God would lay this on my heart today and only God, knowing me the way that He does, knows just how much I struggle with this very same thing.  We live in such a fast paced frantic world today and there are so many "things" that keep stealing my attention here and there. I  need to learn that Whatever I am Doing I need to Focus on That One Thing!

I used to think it was incredibly amazing that I was the "Multi-Tasking Queen".  I mean, seriously, I can do many things at the same time and can manage to get them done well, but for some reason they were never great!  You remember that old saying, Jack of ALL trades, master of none...that was me!

I was stuck trying to be too many things to too many people when deep down inside I was loosing a part of myself.  I wasn't able to develop "deep" relationships because there wasn't time, and even though I was physically present at all my kids events, sports, etc. I was hardly ever really "there".  Does that make sense?  I  need to learn that Whatever I am Doing I need to Focus on That One Thing!

Now that I am working at home the DISTRACTION has followed me yet again.  You would think that being home, instead of an office, would make it easier to stay focused, and yet, what I have found is that the temptations are even greater.  There's laundry, the cleaning, the never ending pile of dishes, meals to be prepared, lunch boxes to make, kids running around, friends calling, email, twitter (don't even get me started on that one), blogs, and several other things that are all fighting within me, like a tug of war, to get keep me DISTRACTED from what God has called me to do.  I  need to learn that Whatever I am Doing I need to Focus on That One Thing!

Setting the Record Straight

Ok, off the bat, let’s just go HERE!

Just because you are a “Work at Home” mom doesn’t mean that you have nothing better to do than to run thousands of miscellaneous errands for people, are able to “drop everything at the drop of the hat”, or have the most immaculately clean house in the world.

Right? I mean, come on, let’s get real here, working at home isn’t what it used to be, which was a few things here and there for a few people. Today, in 2008, it is a whole lot more. We are moms who have decided that the BEST thing for our family (not anyone else’s) is to work from home while we also try and balance life with a family. Is that always easy, no way, is it always fun, nope, wish it was, but it is a real option for so many more people today than it has ever been.

Just today I googled the phrase “Work at Home” and over 248 million posts came up…wow, that is a lot, which tells me that more and more people are wanting the opportunity to be home again. You see, when I was growing up as a child of the 70’s and 80’s (ouch, I just aged myself here), women were “conditioned” to “Bring Home the Bacon”. As a young girl I was taught that I could “Have it all” if I worked hard enough, the great guy, the top level management job, the 2.5 kids (what is that anyways?), the white picket fence, and the perfect neighborhood, but somewhere in the midst of “having it all” I lost my sense of who I was and who God wanted me to be.

We are starting a new journey here in Take Root and Write and that is the beginning of this column and our group (over in Christian Women Take Root). Mom Works at Home is your group, I am merely the facilitator, let’s take some time to “get real” with each other and see what it takes to...

1. Work at Home
2. Discuss some Work at Home options
3. Figure out how to balance your family and new business
4. Talk about everything that comes along with owning your own home business or working at home for someone else.

We will also see how all this balances with God’s word, what His plans are for us, and how blessed we are to be able to Work at Home, yes even on those days where you want to pull your hair out (oh yeah, there are definitely those days).

We’re here to encourage, love, support, teach, love, and grow with each other as we seek to be all we can be for Him.

Are you ready to go on the journey with me? Together we are going to “unpack” a ton of great information about what it’s like when “Mom Works at Home”.

Intro: Mom Works at Home

Have you ever wonderded if it is really possible to be a Work at Home Mom? You wear the mom hat AND the business owner hat while trying to maintain some sense of sanity in your life. At the same time you try to balance your business, your family, your time with your faith and it can get sticky sometimes. I will share ideas with you as other work at home moms while we all strive to be the best we can be in our business!

By, Melissa Mashburn
Column Posted 2nd Tuesday and 4th Tuesday of each month. Also meets as a Group in CWTR HERE

This column is currently looking for a new writer; Our writer no longer works at home! See Potential Writers