I purchased Heaven at Home: Establishing and Enjoying a Peaceful Home by Ginger Plowman the same time I purchased Elizabeth Prentiss ‘More Love to Thee’ by Sharon James. Yes, I almost always buy the companion book recommended by Amazon. The title alone sounds really interesting. Who doesn’t want their home to be a little piece of Heaven?
Heaven at Home hit the shelves in 2006. Ginger Plowman has also authored Don’t Make Me Count to Three. If you’ve already read either of her books, I’d love to hear your thoughts on them. Leave a comment or email me!
Heaven at Home is organized into five sections:
- Home is heavenly when the woman is happy
- Home is heavenly when unity prevails
- Home is heavenly when relationships are right
- Home is heavenly when children obey
- Home is heavenly when it serves as a haven
I grew up in a home that was more like hell on earth than heaven on earth some days. I won’t go so far as to say that every day was a bad day, but every day was not heavenly, either. In fact, it became progressively worse from about the time I was 8 years old until I moved out to go to college. Home was not a place I wanted to be. If an opportunity came along for me go somewhere else, I took it. I looked forward to the day I could leave. I want my home today to be the exact opposite of the home I grew up in.
In college, I majored in Human Development and Family Studies. One of my professors related the atmosphere of the home to the climate of a region. She explained that within the climate of an area there can be all sorts of changes in the weather while the overall climate remains pleasant. So in the home, if the overall climate is peaceful and pleasant it can withstand a few days of bad weather without there being too much damage inflicted on those living in the home.
I like that analogy.
However, I want more than just a happy place overall. I want to create a home that glorifies God. This is the burden Ginger Plowman has as well.
“Jesus longs for us to bask in the blessings of peace and to dwell together in unity. He desires that we practice love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) in our earthly residence in preparation for the eternal, glorious mansions he has prepared for us in heaven. He longs for us to live in such a way that he is glorified.”
I am learning from Jerry Bridges that if my motivation to do anything does not flow from a sincere devotion to God, He will be neither pleased nor glorified. I think the Plowman book will fit nicely with where God is working in me right now.
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Leslie Wiggins 
7 responses to “Introduction to another book”
I really liked “Don’t make me count to 3” (it was similar to Tedd Tripp’s – “Shepherding a child’s heart”, just more practical). I just finished “Heaven at Home.” I really like this book too. I’m glad to see you are going to blog through it. I especially liked her thoughts on entertaining vs. hospitality.I can totally relate to what you said about how your house was when you grew up. I couldn’t wait to leave either. I definitely don’t want my kids to feel that way.
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I can’t wait to hear more about this book. I’ve had my eye on it for a while, since I enjoyed her other book so much.
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I love Ginger Plowman’s..*Don’t make me count to three*…a great book with lots of practical help! This one sounds really good,too! Kim
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I guess I’m going to have to add Don’t Make Me Count to Three to my list.
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This book sounds really appealing…but I bet it’s not available in the UK. Leslie, like you I want my home life to be different to what I experienced as a child. All of my energies go into achieving this. I ask God every day to work on my heart so I can keep “selfishness” out of my homemaking and mothering. I believe firmly that serving my family is the best way to serve Him (at this time in my life) and I am always looking to read good, sound advice. I’m eager to see what you think of this book. If it is as good as it sounds I’ll buy it from Amazon U.S.
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Amazon recommendations are great, they are usually spot on! Thanks for the synopsis of this book, I have seen it pop up all over the internet but only now am aware of the actual content. Enjoy.
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Sounds like an author I need to read! I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this one!
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