Shopping for Time

By on September 28, 2007 in faith & womanhood, making a home


I have recently been reading, Shopping for Time by the Mahaney ladies from over at girltalk. An excellent 94 pages on learning how to balance your time and priorities by first rising early to sit at the feet of Jesus followed by the importance of planning and personal retreats. Very refreshing.

“We ought to be Martha and Mary in one: we should do much service, and have much communion at the same time. For this we need great grace. It is easier to serve than to commune.”
~ Charles Spurgeon

Here are a few thought provoking questions that were included for personal evaluation:

  • How can I make my devotions more fruitful?
  • What is one area I can grow in godliness?
  • What is one family relationship I want to give more attention to this season?
  • Am I using my gifts to serve in my local church?

Their encouragement was to take a personal retreat on a regular basis: quarterly, annually, or with the changes of seasons in your life. I personally was at the beach for the weekend with my husband and it was perfect time to evaluate my walk with the Lord, my relationships, etc. Taking time away from the busyness of life is crucial for continuing to examine ourselves to see if we are walking in the truth.

I personally am striving to be more faithful in journaling during my devotion time. I find this so helpful to seal within my heart and mind any truth that God pokes me with. It is so refreshing to be able to go back and re-read all that God has taught me over time. Such good reminders.

I am also working on the area of contentment in our finances as one of the areas I can grow in godliness in this season of my life. I will be talking more about this in an upcoming post. For now, God has allowed me to pass the management of our finances over to my husband, so I can no longer worry over every little penny spent.

All in all this book has been a refreshing reminder to my soul. Are you continuing to grow in godliness? Being stagnant is not honoring to the Lord. Pretty soon we will dry up all together. Take the time today to do a little examination by the strength that God supplies.

About Lindsay

Lindsay Edmonds is first a lover of Jesus, wife, mother of four, homemaker, and writer. She loves inspiring women around the world toward simple, natural, and intentional living for the glory of God.
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3 Responses to Shopping for Time

  1. Jamasina July 1, 2012 at 10:40 pm #

    I love the idea of journaling during devotional and prayers. How have you found the time to do this once children entered the picture? That’s my current struggle.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Homemaking Help 101 | Passionate Homemaking - October 17, 2012

    [...] of your day by starting it out right!) Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney (Read my full review here) From Clutter to Clarity: Maximizing Life from the Inside Out by Nancy Twigg (It starts with the [...]
  2. Resources for Maintaining a Simple & Organized Home | Passionate Homemaking - February 2, 2011

    [...] Shopping for Time: How to Do it All and NOT Be Overwhelmed by Carolyn Mahaney – I cannot provide a list of resources on organizing and such without including this all-time favorite book by Carolyn that provides such grace and beauty to the role of womanhood and managing our homes and lives. If you are feeling overwhelmed, then this certainly is the book for you to help you get back on track! It is one I have read on numerous occasions when I have lost sight of my priorities and Carolyn graciously has directed me back on course with fresh encouragement and inspiration. Read my full review here. [...]