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5 Home-Shaping Tips & a Home Decor Giveaway!

If you popped over here from my Encouragement for Today devotion I have running on Proverbs 31 & Crosswalk.com, welcome!

If you haven’t peeked at it yet, click here to get up to speed on today’s topic & giveaway!!! (Yay!! I love giveaways!!)

And, if you decide you like what you read here on my humble little blog, please consider entering your email address just above the word “subscribe” in the right side bar just next to this paragraph. You’ll receive any new blog posts via your email in-box. So simple!

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Don’t you just love Thida’s phrase?

“Thank you for helping me to shape our home.”

Home shaping is serious business. Just take a peek into what God says about a woman’s power to either shape or to shatter:

“A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.” Proverbs 14:1

Are we shaping or shattering?

Others are watching. What will they see?

Here are 5 tips for shaping your home. For morphing it into a place where others will both see and experience God’s love.

1. Pause before you pounce. Unkind words hurled at others in haste do not show the love of God to a watching world. All they do instead is show our ability to throw what my husband calls “flesh balls”. Remember, we are to walk in the spirit, not in the flesh.

2.  Freely forgive. When wronged, as we all are sometimes, refuse the invitation to get “historical”, bringing up all past trespasses and blunders and such. (Trust me…I am waaaaay too historical waaay too often!)

3.  Frown less. Would it kill us to ask a family member to “please pass the salt” with a smile on our face? Could we pass our child or spouse in the hall and give them a wink and I quick “I love you like crazy, ‘ya know!”? Must we treat complete strangers with more kindness and care than our own flesh and blood?

4. Laugh more. Listen to the young child’s knock, knock jokes. Get out the old home videos and reminisce. Pop popcorn and rent a clean comedy the whole family will enjoy splitting a gut over. (And note to self: Actually watch the movie with them. Put away the laundry needing to be folded. And the over-looked paper piles waiting to be sorted. And other piddly, distracting busy work. It will all wait patiently for you, I promise.)

5.  Saturate yourself  with the Word of God. Everywhere. On your mirrors, on your fridge, on the signature line of your checkbook, on the dash of your car.

Which brings us to today’s home-shaping giveaway.

In this prior post about my recent Christmas holiday decor, I spoke of my sweet, godly friend & co-author Trish Smith. She is a crafter extraordinaire who can whip up a handmade and heartfelt piece of home art with both her eyes closed!

Seriously!

Think HGTV expert with Jesus’ love appliqued on her heart.

One of her most well-known projects is her line of scripture signs.

I have one hanging in my laundry room:  “Create in me a clean heart, O God”.

Our living room wall boasts our family name with a verse stenciled faintly in the background that reads: “Choose for yourselves whom you will serve; As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”

I have a marriage one in my bedroom.

Another inspirational one in my office.

And now, I want to give one of you a chance to also own a Trish Smith original! You could win today’s giveaway centered around one of her beautiful wooden scripture signs.

One gal who leaves a comment on this post will win the following package (valued at $48!) :

~ This neutral-colored scripture sign, hand-crafted by Trish Smith. (The dot of the “I” in the word light is a little flickering flame. Too cute!)

~ A $10 Kmart/Sears gift card to be used in the stores or online. Are your dish rags too ragged? Need a new pretty casserole dish? How about a decorative scented candle or pretty rustic vase? Get yourself something new for your home.

~ A signed copy of my book A Life That Says Welcome; Simple Ways to Open Your Heart and Home to Others. 1/3 of the book is my story of marrying into a family full of gourmet cooks, decorating divas and even a bed & breakfast owner who was featured in Southern Living magazine—while domestically-challenged me could barely boil water!!

The remaining 2/3 features practical recipes, cleaning & de-cluttering tips, and home decorating shortcuts—all on a budget!

So leave us a comment on home-shaping tips you can think to share.

They can be words of advice to shape your home’s friendly atmosphere.

Or give us a quick or clever decorating tip.

Or perhaps a family-fun snack you serve to your clan.

Or anything that struck a chord with you from this devotion or blog post.

Or, if your day is swamped, simply say “I’m in!”

The winner will be chosen and announced on Monday.

Have a wonderful weekend full of home-shaping love!

Sweet Blessings,

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353 Comments

  1. One thing I do for guests is keep a stocked cabinet with things we need but often forget, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deoderant, facial cleanser and cream and even make up samples. Often I fix up little goodie bags and leave on the bed for them with a puzzle book, pencil, snacks and ear plugs in case they are rooming with someone that snores. I loved your post, thanks. I’m in!

  2. I love “nesting” – my mom says if I spent as much time cleaning as I did decorating I’d be on to something :)

    The thing I’ve learned though, is that if I’m making personal touches to make my home cozy, but neglect to invite others in, then I’ve missed the mark. You’ve got to practice hospitality to really enjoy your home!

    I’ve done some REALLY simple things for company – build your own subs with pasta salad (from the box) and chips, or chili. People don’t need fancy meals to feel special and loved :)

  3. I’m too good at decorating, but for pictures on the wall, we mainly just put up pictures we’ve taken ourselves (and some we even printed ourselves). It provides very personal touches, each picture holds memories, and we spend less money.

    Thank you for your always-useful tips and encouraging words, Karen!

  4. I really liked this post. Thank you for the suggestions so I can devote more time to those I love. Reminded me of the ‘company voice’ I use for strangers. I’m working on using that voice all the time! Thank you again for sharing yourself!
    Karla

  5. I am fighting for the spuls of y children. I have been reshaping my home.
    Thank you for your words, they are encouraging.

    Blessings, Donna

  6. Something that we try to go by is the verse in James about being slow to speak and slow to anger, but quick to listen. This is something we try to work on daily individually and as a family. Thank you for this giveaway!!

  7. I am printing out this blog and posting it on my fridge. That seems to be where I spend most of my time, in the kitchen.I am going to start working on this RIGHT NOW!!! I love those hand crafted signs. How beautiful!!! And I think I need to actually start watching the movie with my gals and not just do everything else while I am suppose to be watching the movie.

  8. I always keep posted somewhere in my home a little saying I learned years ago…..”Mama makes the weather.” I do believe that I, to a large degree, am responsible for the atmosphere of our home. With God’s help, our home can be a place of peace and lovliness but I have to choose that on a daily, hourly and sometimes minute to minute basis! The shaping is never done (and can be undone at anytime) so I have to remain vigilant and commited to it but what a worthy pursuit!

  9. Thanks for this most generous offer! Anyone would be blessed to receive this package. Bless you for offering it!
    Please include me.
    Many Blessings and Smiles:)
    Charlotte Kay

  10. I am in! I need your book! My mother-in-law is a fabulous cook and has excellent taste in everything. Her home is exquisite and yet very welcoming. A tough act to follow! Maybe your book would help me!

  11. I love signs for the home. After a fire destroyed our home and all our belongings, our son made this sign for our new home: “The best things in life are not things.”

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