I’m reading “31 Days to Clean” and joining in Joyful Mothering’s Homemaker’s Challenge.

The question was – why do I clean house?  Before I answered this question I asked myself – what is my home?

• My home is the place God has given me to reflect Him, to be myself.
• My home is the place where Peter and I cleave – it is our sanctuary from the world and it’s expectations.  Our marriage, who we are, is built in our home.
• My home is the place God has given me to train my children; to train them to love God and His ways, and to prepare them to serve Him and His people.
• My home is the place God has given me to bless my brothers and sisters in Christ.  They are my family and they are welcome in my home at any time, for the same reasons as are my children. (My extended family are also welcome but since they live so far away my thoughts go to my spiritual family)
• My home is the place God has given me to show His love to all that I meet, my neighbour, my acquaintances, and the person off the street.

My role as Homemaker is to make this home happen! and that includes cleaning.

Col 3:23  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

In its context this verse is talking to servants – addressing issues of duty – do what you need to do from the heart, and I quote from Gill’s Exposition: not by mere force and necessity, grudgingly, and with murmurings, but from the heart, and with good will, having a true, real, and hearty affection for their masters, having their good and interest at heart, and a delight in their service.  Interesting to note though that Paul also encourages these servants to work as to the Lord – so that the Lord becomes their master.

Challenge to me:  Do I keep my home as if the Lord dwells here?  I know that when the Lord dwells, he fills the place. He filled the tabernacle, and He fills my heart.  So there are no corners I can hide from Him like I can when visitors come to the door.  I can keep the living areas in visitor-condition but what about the rest of the house?  I may trick the visitor – but I can’t trick God.  He sees my messes, he sees my struggles – and yet he encourages me to keep on going, to work at it with my whole heart, to have His purposes as my motivation.