Not My Own

Almost a year?!

2011-09-05T10:18:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it has been almost a year since my last post! Again, a lot has happened.

We moved to WA in Dec. of last year (our church and home are pictured above). We love it here.(But that doesn't mean we don't miss ALL our Ca. friends!) Our church family is such a blessing and we love WA. It is beautiful! We are enjoying the cooler summers too! I have some lovely Christian sisters here that encourage me often! If you want to see some videos of us check out vimeo.com and type in: katie lapierre in the search. You can also check out the church page: woodlandchristianchurch.net or look us up on facebook!

Scott's wonderful parents moved here a few months ago and the foundation for their new home is being laid. It is so nice to have family around. We are with them a lot and so thankful for them!

My dad met a woman that he is very in love with and we are hoping to brainwash them into moving here... permanently! We figure our kids are cute enough to win them over!

My sister is pregnant with her second boy and due in mid Dec. It stinks real bad not being near her and I hate that we don't get to share life together. I can't wait to meet my new nephew Brody!

My brother is doing well and about to get his A.A. and we are also trying to get him to move here :)

My kids are growing in many ways. Johnny gave us a real scare at the beginning with his failure to gain weight. All the sudden he just started gaining for no rhyme or reason (maybe all the prayer?!) and is doing very well. He lights up our world with his contagious laugh and smile!

Ricky is going to be three in December! I can't believe it. He has a real tender/sweet side to him and loves imitating his sister. They play together all the time! In fact, they are in their room (they just started sharing one until Johnny is old enough to share one with Ricky) playing right now.

Rhea turned 4 this summer and is one of my closest little friends. I love being her mom. We have many good conversations about the Lord and she really seems to have a heart for Him!

Scott is loving his job as a senior pastor and he is excelling in many ways. It has been really neat as his wife to watch the Lord use him over and over.

We live right next to the church and really enjoy that! It's so nice to just run over there and go back and forth as needed (especially as a mom of three little people).

The thing most pressing on my mind lately has been adoption. As Scott and I ponder and pray about God's plan for our family I am continually heartbroken for the orphans in this world. In particular, the ones in the foster system. I am praying for guidance and for God to give Scott and I direction. I know there is such a need out there and if Christians arent' stepping up then who will?!

Adoption is such a beautiful picture of what the Lord did with us "Gentiles". He took those that "weren't His own" and made us His own! He loves us uncoditionally and gives us all the rights of the Jews, His chosen people. There is much to learn about the Father's heart through adoption.

Here are some links that I frequent in regards to adoption:

adoptuskids.org

adoption.com

and many others but for some reason my copy and paste isn't working.

We are in a great season of life. I am enjoying every minute of it.

love, Kate or Katie :)

Another Reason To Homeschool

2010-10-30T14:52:00.000-07:00

Click here to watch an amazingly devastating video 20/20 did on bullying in schools.

This just makes me want to keep my children in the safe haven of our home and teach them my self even more. What a cruel world out there for poor children! The evil young people are capable of is disgusting.

life's ups and downs

2010-07-21T19:01:00.001-07:00

My life has had some serious ups and downs lately. My mother died on Thursday, June 10th very unexpectedly. My son was born exactly a week later on June 17th. One major down and one major up. God has been so faithful and near through it all.

My husband preached a sermon on Sunday called: "Checking Your Walls". You can listen to it by clicking here. It was about making sure you have strong "walls" BEFORE the enemy attacks. Walls for cities in the Old Testament were of utmost importance. Without them you would surely perish. Without them we fall under adversity. We need to be seeking the Lord through His Word, prayer and fellowship during times of peace so that when the storms come we are able to withstand them! The Word says we are MORE than conquerors in Christ. I felt like that in the midst of grieving the loss of my mother. I don't know how people "do life" without the Lord.

John, my new wonderful son pictured above, is doing so good! He will be five weeks tomorrow! He is doing well with scheduling (please don't throw rocks at me) and gets LOTS of attention from his brother and sister. I am adjusting to life as a mom of three little ones, hence the lack of posts lately. I am so blessed. Seriously. My husband treats me like a queen. My kids are adorable and we have so much fun. And most importantly I have a Father who loves me and guides me from day to day.

Angry Mom

2010-03-17T15:29:00.000-07:00

I never thought of myself as an angry person. Parenting has revealed that I am. I hate myself when I let anger get the best of me. I want to be that mom that carrys on with a joyful heart and is not overwhelmed by her surroundings. But lo and behold, Rhea is defiant, Ricky is crying, the house is a mess and I feel like all the sudden I am going to "lose it". The Lord is really working with me in this area.

Anger is sin and sin destroys. I know that the family unit is of utmost importance and I don't want to stand by and let my anger tear it down. James says that the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. I want God's righteousness to reign in our home and I know that that will only happen if my sinful ways dissipate.

I read an article today (link given below) and was encouraged to know that I am not alone. I also ordered the book through our library that it mentions. If you struggle with frustration toward your children know that you are not alone and know that God wants things to be different. He wants our homes to be filled with His peace and love. This is only possible as we seek Him moment to moment.

Click here for article.

Mother At Home Series

2010-03-13T09:21:00.000-08:00

Not sure if I started this already but I wanted to do a series on a book I just finished called: The Mother at Home by John S.C. Abbott. It was so good and I wanted to share some of the treasures I found.

The first chapter was on "Responsibility". It talks fo the responsibility we have as mothers to train up our children in the way they should go.

"His/her character is now, in an important sense, in your hands, and you are to form it for good or for evil. If you are consistent in your government, and faithful in the discharge of your duties, your child will probably through life revere you, and be your solace of your declining years. If on the other hand, you cannot summon resolution to punish your child when disobedient... he will despise you for your weakness. Unaccustomed to restraints at home, he will break away from all restraints.

It is true that there are many mothers who feel their responsibilities perhaps as deeply as it is best should feel them. Bu there are many others-even of Christian mothers-who seem to forget that their children will ever be less under their control than they are while young. And they are training them up, by INDECISION AND INDULGENCE, soon to tyrannize over their parents with a rod of iron-and to pierce their hearts with many sorrows. If you are unfaithful to your child when he is young, he will be unfaithful to you when he is old. If you indulge him in all his foolish and unreasonable wishes when he is a child when he becomes a man he will indulge himself; he will gratify every desire of his heart and your sufferings will be rendered the more poignant by the reflection that it was your own unfaithfulness which has caused your ruin. If you would be the happy mother of a happy child, give your attention, and your efforts, and your prayers, to the great duty of training him up for God and heaven."

Borrowed Post: What Does A Stay at Home Mom do All day?

2010-02-28T12:04:00.000-08:00

Can be found at: generationcedar.com

She studies to provide at least somewhat healthy, somewhat economical meals for her family. This can be a time-consuming job, but there are books written solely on the art of cooking and the incredible ministry found in entertaining your family and friends through the hospitality of the kitchen. Study it! (Another word about the ministry of hospitality soon!) Just in the area of health alone, America is experiencing an epidemic of illness, largely from consuming so much pre-packaged food, a choice usually necessary to maintain the over-booked lives we live.

If the Lord has given her children, she pours herself into their training, nurturing and developing. Another full time job almost by itself. If not, there are a myriad of “mothering” and ministering opportunities sorely in need of a servant-minded woman.

She helps her husband. This varies widely from home to home. But much like an administrative assistant, she can be a “crown to her husband” instead of forcing him to hire another woman for that role. This is where “the heart of her husband safely trusts her” as she runs a household and “he has no lack of gain”.

She studies to keep her marriage happy. The dearth of happy marriages–of marriages at all–is staggering. Good marriages don’t just happen. If they aren’t tended, they’ll wilt.

She studies to save money, to make her home a warm, inviting place, to treat minor illnesses, to repair things, to make things, to plant things, to be busy with her hands. Books are written–there is no end to this art.

She engages in meaningful conversation with her children. An often underrated, but vitally important job in their education–homeschooled or not.

She “reaches”. (“She reaches her hand to the needy”. Proverbs 31) Whether this be the meeting of a physical need for the poor, or a need of a fellow believer, needs abound. Many needs could be met in the form of an encouraging card, phone call or visit. It’s just a suggestion, but maybe Prozac has largely filled our lack of availability to hurting women.

She earns money. Home industries are easier than ever to begin. Saving money and making money are doable activities for the SAHM.

She mentors other moms.

She takes care of extended family members. Nursing homes are new

Mother's priorities

2010-02-27T14:05:00.000-08:00

Picture when you stand before the Lord. It's not completely clear what that day will look like but I do like this fictional picture of what it may look like for a woman whose priorities were not as the Lord would desire.

"Where are the boys and girls I gave thee?" says the Lord.

"Lord, I was busy keeping my house clean and in order, and my children wandered away."

"Where wert thou while thy sons and thy daughters were learning lessons of dishonesty, malice and impurity?"

"Lord, I was polishing furniture and making beautiful rugs." (my addition: I was on facebook, watching worldly tv shows, talking on the phone.)

"What hast thou to show for thy life's work?"

"The tidiest house, Lord, and the best starching and ironing in all our neighborhood!" (my addition: a lot of wasted time)

Oh these children, these children! The restless eager boys and girls whom we love more than our lives! Shall we devote our time and strength to that which perishes while the rich garden of our child's soul lies neglected, with foul weeds choking out all worthy and beautiful growths? Fleeting indeed, O mother, are the days of childhood, and speckless windows, snowy linen, the consciousness that everything about the house is faultlessly bright and clean will be poor comfort in that day wherein we shall discover that our poor boy's feet have chosen the path that shall take him out of the way to all eternity."

--Author Unknown

For Him

2010-02-07T19:42:00.000-08:00

I am listening to a great message by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Here is something in particular that convicted and encouraged me:

"From Him are all things, through Him are all things, and to Him are all things. He is the source; He is the sustainer, and He is the supreme purpose and sense and goal of all things, for all things were created for Him and for His pleasure. That is so contrary to our natural perspective, isn’t it? Our natural way of thinking is, “It’s all about me.” We live as if all things were from us, through us, and for us.

That leaves us fearful, angry, proud, bitter, confused, and depressed. God is the source of all things. He is the sovereign Lord and director of all things. He is the sustainer of all things, and in the end, all things—even the sinful choices of fallen human beings, some of whom you may live with, and all of us fall into that category—even the sinful choices of human beings in the end will glorify God and demonstrate the greatness of His wisdom, His power, and His grace.

So what’s the response? Paul tells us, “To Him be glory forever. Amen.” Paul says, “The response is, we put God in the spotlight where He belongs.” We praise Him; we worship Him; we give Him glory, and we say, “Amen, let it be so.” We make our affirmation that we agree. We believe this. We submit our lives to God’s holy, eternal purposes."

Don't Judge Me

2010-01-26T16:36:00.000-08:00

Okay, is it just me or is this people's favorite saying in regards to Christianity: "Don't judge me."? Or: "Jesus said 'whoever is without sin cast the first stone.'" BUT, what did Jesus say after that? He told the woman to "go and sin no more." Sin destroys. Sin also misrepresents Christ. That is who we represent as Christians. I know there are many passages about not judging others. When you search for the word judge in the new testament there are many verses that come up telling us to not judge. HOWEVER, there are so many verses about the atrocity of those calling themselves Christians who are acting like the world. Jesus said a tree can be judged by it's fruit. Those who say they are followers of Christ can be judged by their actions.

Paul said in 1 Cor.5 "I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— ¹⁰not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. ¹¹But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. ¹²What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?¹³God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."

Is it just me or does that sound judgmental? Paul instructs the church to expel such wicked people! We are not to even eat with them. I believe we are to be this severe because sin is serious and people need to take it seriously. By continuing to hang out with people and allow them in the fellowship we are in a sense condoning their sin. It says in verse twelve that we are not to judge those outside the church (those who don't call themselves Christians). God will judge them. BUT, those who say they are representing Christ will be judged by their fruits and as brothers and sisters we are called to judge them. This is also important because Christ said that many would come to Him calling Him Lord that He would not allow into heaven because He "never knew them." Wouldn't it be loving to confront someone living sinfully and ask them (as Paul does in numerous letters) to examine their faith and make sure they truly know Christ?!

The most loving thing we can do is hold our brothers and sisters accountable. For example, I dated a non-believer at one weak point in my life. No body confronted me except one person. She said to me: "Katie, I don't care about anything else involving this guy. If he doesn't love and fear the Lord he is not for you." I was so angry at her at the time. But after I finally broke up with him (it was only a month that we were together but it seemed like forever because I was being disobedient) I was SO THANKFUL to this friend. She was the only one who loved me enough to give God's perspective on my sin.

Why do we hate confrontation so much? Why do we hate to be rebuked or corrected? It is pride. I don't like people telling me I am wrong because I am prideful. I can't think of a time where someone has confronted me on something and they weren't right. As Christians we grow much more from constructive criticism then we do from compliments. Compliments usually just build up our flesh.

It is important that we "judge" those within the church. The world is already judging us. They see an unholy, unloving, hypocritical church and it is our duty as those within the church to confront one another, IN LOVE, so that we may grow and win a dying world to Christ! If you don't want to be judged, don't say you are a follower of Christ...

Good Wife Stuff

2010-01-09T09:42:00.000-08:00

I was emailing a friend this morning some "good wife stuff" that I read off of: nogreaterjoy.org (Michael and Debi Pearl). I hope it convicts and encourages you as much as it did me! (It may seem a little jumbled/out of order because I copied and pasted from various articles).

"The first and the most important thing you will ever do as a mother in training your children is to reverence your husband, delight yourself in him, love to obey him, feel honored to be married to him, joy in his presence. In doing so, you are building up your house, you are creating a home, you are establishing a foundation. It is this first and most important ingredient in raising happy, obedient, creative, respectful children, children delighted to be part of the family. This kind of atmosphere in the home causes your children to love each other, to enjoy being with their own brothers and sisters.

Oh, your teens might see that you are not Mr. and Mrs. Perfect, but they will delight in the fact that their parents really like each other. It makes for a very happy, peaceful home life. It makes the promises found in the Bible become a reality. It is the reason some parents who seem to do everything wrong are still able to raise good teens, while other parents who do everything right raise sour young people.

Ladies, we have in our grasp the opportunity to reverence our husbands, thus teaching our children how to reverence God. I can change eternity by choosing to delight myself in my husband, obeying him, loving him and causing him to stand before God free from the shackles of domestic condemnation. As Mike once said, “When a wife suggests that a husband take the lead, any leading he does after that is just following her suggestion.” When you decide what course the family should take and then seek to bring your husband into compliance, you will not only spoil your marriage but your children as well.

ALL men share many of the same “faults”, and ALL women spend their time and emotional energy trying to correct those faults and are frustrated when he is man enough to stand firm against it. A splinter in a man’s eye is hard to get out when a beam is in your own eye. Love, joy, and peace will never come until you lay down your expectation for your husband and learn to cheerfully appreciate him as he is.

In the dominant role, a woman quickly becomes emotionally and physically exhausted. God made us the weaker vessels. If you are in this exhausted state, then chances are you’re carrying a lor thatad not meant for you. It is not for you to press your husband to do his duty to be spiritual. You are to live joyfully in the context he provides.

God designed us, so he knows what our husbands need in order to function properly in their roles as men who cherish the woman in their life. By nature, men need honor (this includes not questioning their decisions). They need respect (treated as if they are wise). They need reverence (daily admired as a man who is accomplishing great things). They need to be accepted for who and what they are, just like they are. Men need to feel they are in command and doing a good job.

An important part of man is a God-given, natural instinct to bring his wife pleasure. If a woman is to be greatly treasured she will choose to find pleasure in the way the man presents himself and his care. All these traits are basic masculine needs. We were created as a helpmeet to the man we married, fulfilling who and what he is. This is God’s will for us as women. When we as women obey God by responding to the needs of our husband, we are worshipping and honoring God. “Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man (1 Cor. 11:9).”

A man cannot cherish a strong woman who has expressed her displeasure with him and is holding out until he fulfills her ideal. You say he should have Christ’s love. Is that what you want? Do you want your husband to have to seek supernatural power just to find a way to love you? What most men cherish in their wives is the memory when love was fun and free, with no demands—the time when she smiled at him with a sweet, girlish, “I think you are wonderful” look. She was so feminine then, so much the woman. It was a time when he wanted to hold her just because she was his, a time when he wanted to give her everything. A vague memory keeps him hoping. He is as disappointed in love as you are, maybe more. He is just as lonely. He just fills up his loneliness doing things that will distract him from the reality of the emptiness he knows is there but does not know how to fix. His helpmeet is not pleased with him. He is a loser.

God’s reward is without measure. Men are like clay in the hands of a woman whom they can trust with their hearts. A man, lost or saved, responds to a woman who honors him. When a woman looks to her husband with a face that is full of laughter and delight, he will look forward to being with her. If her voice speaks words of thanksgiving and joyful appreciation of him, he will want to listen to her. If her actions are full of service and creativity, and if she has goodwill towards him, he will be drawn to her as a bee is to honey. This kind of lady is altogether feminine. She is what God created and gave to Adam.

I've asked a male or two this question in a over a dozen foreign countries: "What is the most valuable and attractive attribute a woman can have in your culture?" The answer has been consistent in every country, Happy, cheerful, fun, joyful, smiling, good attitude...etc.

Christmas for Christians

2009-11-27T17:25:00.000-08:00

What should Christmas look like for Christians? Very interesting topic. My husband and I have chosen not to do the tree, presents, lights, Santa... We feel they have nothing to do with Jesus. We have decided to give to those in need because Jesus said when we give to "the least of these" (Matt. 25:40) we give to Him and since it is supposedly His birthday we are celebrating we thought that would be a tangible way to give Him a present.

We go to gospelforasia.com. Please consider checking this out. How cool would it be to "shop" with your kids and tell them "this year we are going to spend a little money on Jesus. Let's pick out what we should buy."

Do share what your Christmas looks like. This is not a black and white subject with my husband and I. We truly don't judge other families for how they choose to celebrate Christmas. I am grateful however that we are on the same page. It would be stressful to want different things. I am looking forward to celebrating Christ on Christmas day just as I do everyday.

What Not To Say...

2009-11-08T20:11:00.001-08:00

Well, I am on the couch... A LOT. I have a big rat nest in the back of my hair from laying down so much. So sad and unfortunately so true. Being sick during my pregnancy seems to lead me to being someone I don't want to be... It's like I psych myself up saying: "next pregnancy I will be joyful!" and then lo and behold I am pregnant and not pleasant.

Why do our bodies have such power over us?! The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

There is one thing I learn whenever I am sick and it's what NOT to say to people who are suffering or struggling. Cliches. Even solid Christian ones like: "God is in control". "Trust Him." "He only does what is best for His children." And on and on it goes. You know when Job's friends blew it? When they opened their mouths. Before that they just sat with him for days and didn't say a word. That is a good friend.

Don't get me wrong. I am tempted to say these types of things to people often. BUT unless I have a strong motivation from the Lord (which I do believe happens) I refrain. People usually know all the things we want to tell them. They just want someone to say (or at least this is what I like to hear): "I am so sorry, is there anything I can do for you?" That's it. So simple. And yet it shows me they care.

I need to work on James 1:5 "Counting it all joy when I fall into various trials.." I talk to the Lord about this verse often saying: "Lord, I don't get it. I am so weak! How can I count THIS as a joy? I can't take care of my house.... my children... my husband... or even myself (still haven't showered today... yikes!). Lord, you are going to have to show me because I don't understand."

And I don't understand. This hits me hard. 1 Corinthians chapter 2 is one of my faves. Verse 14 in the amplified version reads:

"But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated."

Thank you Lord that my nonspiritual man does not accept or understand these things but who I am in You DOES! I can count it all joy in my spirit. Thank you Lord for comforting me in ways that no man's words ever can. You alone are my Refuge and my Counselor.

What Should We Pray For Our Children?

2009-10-30T15:12:00.000-07:00

I found this list of things to pray for our children. I am not sure of the author... There is one for each month to pray earnestly for our little loves.

1. That they will know Christ early in life. Psalm 63:1 and 2 Tim. 3:15

2. That they will HATE sin. Psalm 97:10

3. That they will be caught when guilty. Psalm 119:71

4. That they will be protected from the evil one in each area of their lives. John 17:15

5. That they have a responsible attitude in all their personal relationships. Daniel 6:3

6. That they will respect those in authority over them. Romans 13:1

7. That they will desire the right kind of friends and be protected from the wrong friends. Proverbs 1:10-11, 1 Cor. 15:33

8. That they will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one. 2 Cor. 6:14-17

9. That they, as well as those they marry, will remain pure. 1 Cor. 6:18-20

10.That they will desire to submit to God and resist satan. James 4:7

11. That they will be sold out in their faith and love for Christ. Rom. 12:1-2

12. That they will be hedged in and protected. Hosea 2:6

Waiting for or Looking Back...

2009-10-20T13:35:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that so many (including myself at times) are not happy with their current "season"? We long for what was: college, high school, single days, days before kids etc. or they wait for: college graduation, high school graduation, to be married, to have kids... We are a difficult people to satisfy!

Oh the joys that come with contentment. With taking in and enjoying now. So hard. I believe it takes practice. If we practice discontentment we will become very good at it.

Right now I have a two year old and a 10 month old. I look forward to when they will be potty trained, to when I can communicate with them, to when they will sleep in, to when they will "help out" more... But my fear is that in the process of looking forward is I will miss what is.

Help me Lord, to enjoy today to it's fullest and to forget what is behind! Thank you for my beautiful children. For the sound of babies. For the curiosity of toddlers. What a joy to be a mom living in the present and taking hold of what You have for me TODAY!

Love and Logic

2009-10-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

Recent emailing with another mommy led me to remember Love and Logic. Ever heard of it? It is a great program of sorts to help parents and teachers work with children in a calm and efficient manner. My husband used it with teaching and he said it made such a difference! So here is my recommendation to you to check it out! Type in "parenting with love and logic" into google or yahoo and you are sure to find ample info. Or buy the book today at amazon! Let me know what you think.

Another little LaPierre Bun in the Oven!

2009-10-13T07:06:00.001-07:00

Well, we found out a couple days ago that I am expecting another little love. Thanking the Lord already that His grace sufficient. I have an appointment on Thursday. Looking forward to meeting this new family addition some time early June.

Home Motivation

2009-10-04T06:33:00.000-07:00

Another great post at simplemom.net on HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED AS A HOMEMAKER. I don't know about you but I need motivation for this sometimes. Enjoy!

Click here.

Mom's unplugged

2009-10-03T19:13:00.001-07:00

I enjoyed a post on moms watching their time on the internet. One great idea she had was to set a timer. To read the post click here.

hung out to dry...

2009-10-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

I love it. Got our clothesline up yesterday (thanks Honey!). It was so fun to go out with the kiddos this morning and hang our clothes out to dry. Something about the labor, the sun, the laughs and knowing that we are saving money and energy makes me enjoy this new pastime. Try it out!

p.s. here is the dictionary's definition of pastime (it suits how I feel quite well): something that serves to make time pass agreeably; a pleasant means of amusement, recreation

My Beautiful Sister!

2009-09-30T07:45:00.001-07:00

My beautiful sister got married. She was radiant on her wedding day. She has grown up to be such a wonderful woman. Our friendship is growing and growing. I love you Molly!

More Great Mommy Advise!

2009-09-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

These quotes come from the book I am finishing up called: The Mother At Home by John S.C. Abbot. It was written in 1833! It has just as much application for today as it did then.

The two chapters I am quoting from are called: Religious Instruction Parts 1 & 2.

"It is certainly vain to hope that you can induce your children to fix their affections upon another world, while yours are fixed upon this one." Powerful! I think we sometimes have higher expectations of our children then we do of ourselves. He says later on "The parent must strive to be herself, just what she wishes her child to be." Do you want your children to have a kind tone? To remain calm? To be joyful? To be grateful? To not complain? To love the Lord? What do you want from YOUR children? Go display this for them so they can see how it is you wish for them to be!
Regularly "speak of His goodness. Show His readiness to forgive. Excite the gratitude of the child by speaking of the joys of heaven. Thus let the duties of religion ever be connected with feelings of enjoyment and images of happiness that the child may perceive that gloom and sorrow are connected only with disobedience..." and a lack of relationship with their Creator. There will be no tears in heaven. All sadness stems from sin.
"Our children have more right to expect that we shall be model parents than we have to require that they shall be model children."
When things aren't going right that is the time "in which to show loveliness and blessedness of confidence in God. A smile upon your countenance, a glance of confiding affection in your eye, a word of calm submission from your full heart, will then go to the hearts of your observing children, with great and effectual power. Words are air. They fall upon the ear and are forgotten. BUT WHO EVER FORGETS ABIDING, CONSISTENT, UNVARYING EXAMPLE? What child ever ceases to remember the daily life, of its father and mother?"
"Parents should never, especially in the presence of their children, give way to feelings of irritation and anger. Even when a child does wrong there should be NO EXPRESSION OF RESENTMENT OR VEXATION IN OUR LOOKS OR IN OUR WORDS. We may act firmly on such occasions and reprove effectually, while yet we maintain throughout, the quiet, gentle, and peaceful spirit by which the conduct of the Christian ought at all times to be characterized."
"Every mother ought to engage in the duties of religious instruction, with the confident expectation that God will accompany her exertions with His blessing." That is encouraging!

How Many to Have...

2009-09-14T06:47:00.000-07:00

I found this awesome article over at Resolved to Worship. Such a great analogy. Encouraged me greatly. Let me know what you think!

"The fruit of the ground is a reward and a blessing."

"The fruit of the womb is a reward and a blessing."

If a farmer plants as many seeds as he can without consideration for the ground, the health of the plants, etc.
...and thinks the fruit of the ground should be God's area and we should NOT get involved whatsoever in the number of seeds planted, or the spacing of the seeds, or the size of the garden which he can reasonably and responsibly care for...

...the seeds will produce fruit of course (it is the nature of the creation) and he will have more plants!

However, the ground will suffer, the plants will not be healthy (because there are not enough nutrients in the soil to supply that many plants), and the plants will ultimately be neglected since there are more plants than the farmer has time to weed, prune, fertilize, and care for.

Likewise...

If a man plants as many seeds in the womb without consideration for his wife's body (the ground), the health, training, discipling, educating, providing, and loving of the children, etc. and thinks the womb should be God's area and he and his wife (the farmers) should not get involved in the consideration of the number of seeds planted, or the spacing of the plants (children), or the size of the garden (family) which they can reasonably care for, the seeds will produce fruit (children--it is the nature of the creation)...

...they will have more children.

However, the wife's body will suffer as well as her emotional state, the children will not be healthy (because there is not enough emotional, spiritual, and physical nutrients in the parents to supply that many plants/children), and the children will ultimately be neglected to some degree since there are more children than the couple have time, energy, and resources to weed (rebuke), prune (discipline), fertilize (teach, train, disciple), and care for (love and meet their emotional needs).

The farmer is responsible before God to be a good steward of his land and the fruit of the land.

The husband and wife are responsible before God to be a good steward of the womb and the fruit of the womb.

They are responsible in God's Word to provide for them, bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, keep their hearts turned to each of them, and provide a rich example of the love of Christ for the church as the children observe their love for each other and how they relate to each other.

Therefore, since we want to walk in a manner worthy of Christ and the gospel, we must have the same attitude as He had (emptying ourselves, humbly serving, and willing to lay down our lives for others) and to think about the interests of others (our wives/husbands first, and then the other children) more than our own interests (reputation or self-esteem or own desires).

Parents should remember, having children is not about them, it's about Christ. And if all of life is about Christ, then it is about others. So the question about how many children should a couple have can only be answered by each couple accurately understanding their abilities, gifting, health, and God's provision with an attitude of stewardship before God for His glory.

One farmer may have planted 10,000 seeds in his plot and there stands 10,000 stunted corn plants because the farmer did not accurately assess what the ground could supply and he care for.

Another farmer may have planted 1000 seeds in his plot and there stands 1000 healthy, fruitful corn plants because the farmer did accurately assess what the ground could supply and he care for.

Which farmer brings more glory to God in his stewardship?

One husband plants as many seeds as he feels like and his wife allows in her womb and there stands # of children (the number is not important) emotionally, spiritually, physically, neglected children because the couple did not accurately assess what they could reasonably care for.

One husband plants seeds wisely and lovingly guided by the Holy Spirit in the womb of his wife and there stands # of children (the number is not important) emotionally, spiritually, physically healthy children because the couple did accurately assess what they could reasonably care for with the Lord's fulness and strength.

Which couple brings more glory to God in their stewardship?

One couple may not pray or seek the Lord in his (their) stewardship because the law (what is being taught by some as God's law) is "have as many children as God wants you to have". On the other hand, another may have their children conceived and birthed out of faith in fellowship and prayer with Jesus Christ. They may have 1 child after many attempts or they may have 10, but they come together freely and with excitement because they are living by the Spirit, in fellowship with God, and with His attitude for His glory.

So the most important consideration isn't how large the family is, but are they walking by faith, in love with God, living with the attitude of Christ for His glory..."

More adoption stats...

2009-09-12T16:10:00.000-07:00

Planned Parenthood preformed 250,000 abortions in 2004 and made a profit of $35 million. (Family News in Focus, 12/22/04)

"What we know from research is that the longer a child stays in foster care the worse the child's outcomes." (US Health and Human Services Undersecretary Wade Horn, Focus on the Family web site, May 20, 2004.)

Each year November is designated National Adoption Month by the President of the United States. This was first declared in 1990. (US Census Bureau web site.)

21,616 immigrant visas were issued to orphans coming to the United States for adoption in 2003, up from 7,377 a decade earlier. (US Census Bureau web site.)

1.7 million households contain adopted children. These households comprise 4 percent of all households in which children reside. (US Census Bureau web site.)

Average age of parents with adopted children is 43 or about 5 years older than the average age of parents with biological children. (US Census Bureau web site.)

Median income of adoptive parents is approximately $5,000 more than the median income of biological parents. (US Census Bureau web site.)

There are over 40 references to orphans in the Old Testament found in 12 of the Old Testament books!

China released 6,859 children for adoption to the United States in 2003 (US Dept. of State web site).There are approximately 8,000,000 children in orphanages in China.

"About four in ten Americans have considered adopting a child at one time in their lives. This equates to about 81.5 million adults. Considering there are 134,000 children in foster care awaiting families, these children would all have a home today is just 0.2% (1 in 500) of these adults actually pursued and completed the adoption process." (National Adoption Attitudes Survey, June 2002).

78% of Americans think the country should be doing more to encourage adoption. (National Adoption Attitudes Survey, June 2002).

Americans have a very positive opinion about adoptive parents. They are seen as lucky by 94% of Americans. (National Adoption Attitudes Survey, June 2002)

Sweet Encouragement

2009-09-12T12:22:00.000-07:00

This is A. Ann over at Resolved to Worship. Which is another one of my all time favorite blogs. There are so many things to admire about this woman! This little list she made encouraged me so much:

*All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

*Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

*Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

*Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

*Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

*What other people think of you is none of your business.

Me and My BIG Mouth/I Am Peter

2009-09-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

This has been a very humiliating couple months for me... I have a BIG mouth. I often feel like Peter. "I will NEVER Lord." Yeah, I have heard that whole "never say never thing." I am really good at saying never and at being very bold about it! I am also very good at changing my mind.

Let me explain...

I had never had a baby before but I made sure to tell everyone and their... hippo... that I was not going to get an epidural... NEVER EVER! My wise sister said: "maybe you should wait to say things like that until after you have had a baby." "Whatever" was my reply. Low and behold, Rhea came on July 17th 2007 and I told the nurse to hook "it" up... it being the wonderful epidural. When Ricky came you better believe I had them hook it up as well :0)

Next, and possibly most embarrassing, I told everyone that would listen (or rather not listen) that I was going to "let God plan my family". My mom said: "Maybe you should wait to see how you feel after you have a couple of kids." Again, my response: "Whatever". Low and behold, a couple kids later, I am changing my mind. Why can't I just keep my BIG mouth shut? The Lord is using this season to teach me SO much and to humble me greatly.

My wonderful husband was telling me that even though this time is very embarrassing and very humiliating God is going to use it greatly. He does tend to use those embarrassing and humiliating times, doesn't He? He is very good that :0) For when we are weak, then He is strong.

I love this proverb: Proverbs 17:28 "Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue." I've got the whole fool part down... now I just need to work on keeping silent/holding my tongue.

So for now, Scott and I are allowing number 3 to come as the Lord wills. After that... who knows I AM KEEPING MY MOUTH SHUT. James 4:13-14 says: "¹³Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." ¹⁴Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." SO GOOD! Why do I even bother telling others what I am going to do in the future? I don't even know what will happen tomorrow. Please help me Lord to KEEP MY BIG MOUTH SHUT.

Link Love

2009-08-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

I go to some of my favorite blogs and one of my favorite things to find is a "link love" post. It's where they share some treasured links they have found in their browsing endeavors. I wanted to do the same for you.

Here is a great one on 70 great things about having children.

Scott and I are planning on getting a clothesline. This link will show you 10 reasons to get one! (just scroll down a bit)

This one gave great ideas for outdoor fun as a family.

Now I talked about wanting to live out on some land with some good friends. But this is a little too much. :0)

Enjoy! and let me know whatcha think!

Mothering Inspiration

2009-08-25T05:53:00.000-07:00

I wanted to copy and paste a couple inspiring mother quotes. You can find where I got them from here and here.

"IT is wholly impossible to live according to Divine order, and to make a proper application of heavenly principles, as long as the necessary duties which each day brings seem only like a burden grievous to be borne. Not till we are ready to throw our very life's love into the troublesome little things can we be really faithful in that which is least and faithful also in much. Every day that dawns brings something to do, which can never be done as well again. We should, therefore, try to do it ungrudgingly and cheerfully. It is the Lord's own work, which He has given us as surely as He gives us daily bread. We should thank Him for it with all our hearts, as much as for any other gift. It was designed to be our life, our happiness. Instead of shirking it or hurrying over it, we should put our whole heart and soul into it."

-- James Reed, Joy and Strength for the Pilgrim's Day by Mary Wilder Tileston, p. 39

“My Father, give us a sturdiness of mind and heart for the many tasks ahead.

May we speak with the law of kindness on our tongues.

Make us helpers, suitable for our husbands–forgetting our selfish wants, and truly looking to lighten his load.

May we be a crown to him, and not rottenness in his bones.

Give us strength of body to build this house and not tear it down.

Adorn us with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.

Make us long suffering toward our husbands and children, not easily provoked and not easily provoking to anger.

Give us energy and vision to “watch over the affairs of our households”, seeing it through Your eyes…a mission field, and a battleground to be won for You.

Help us speak with wisdom.

Help us to be busy with our hands, faithful with our time, and productive in our work.

Give us stamina for the day, helping us see that all the little things are not really little in Your economy.

May we be encouraged in the trenches and know that “greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world”.

When we are tired, give us rest; when we are irritable, give us grace; when we are grumpy give us gratitude; and when we are spent, carry us on from there.

Losing my life to save it…"

More Homeschooling Goodness

2009-08-24T14:16:00.001-07:00

I suppose homeschooling is on my mind since most children that go to school are back at it after a hot summer. One of my favorite bloggers says that we should always be preparing for the NEXT season. Rhea is 2. I plan on starting some sort of "schooling" with her when she is four. I am studying different techniques and thoughts quite a bit, so that, when the time arrives I am prepared (or some what anyhow!).

I wanted to share some goodies I found with ya all!

Over at Sprittibee I found a HUGE list of homeschool links.

Kelly Crawford recently made a post titled: Homeschool Help!

And finally Jamie over at Rose Cottage gave some GREAT reasons as to why she home-schools

Nothing Like It

2009-08-23T06:52:00.001-07:00

There is nothing like the love a mother has for her children. It is so beautiful. It brings me to tears some times to think of the gift of little ones. When my wonderful in-laws take my loves for a night it reminds me of how much I enjoy having them around! In fact, I had them stay with my in-laws one night recently and I ended up crying on the couch.

And to think, I need to have my Lord before them... God wants to be first in our lives. I am realizing even my children can become an idol. Father, protect my heart and remind me of this often!

More foster care stuff

2009-08-20T21:22:00.001-07:00

I read these stats and it made me want to get involved with foster care even more:

Did you know: there are over 800,000 foster children in the US . Annually 20,000 kids age out of foster care nationwide, an increase of 41 percent since 1998. One third of them didn’t have a high school diploma and about 20 percent become homeless. Nearly half of the young women who have been in foster care become pregnant at least once by age 19. The need is great.

The need is definitely great. Reminds me of that verse: the harvest is great but the laborers are few. The need for adoption is huge but those willing to adopt are so few! I read some where that only 2% of people end up ever adopting!

Scott and I would like to adopt children younger then ours. This will be a while but I am praying for and about the children the Lord has in store for us.

So many hurting little ones. Oh Lord, please give us as your people a heart for the orphans!

Provoking our children

2009-08-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

Provoking our children to anger comes in many ways. Here is a list of 25 that I found here.

1. Lack of marital harmony.

2. Establish and maintaining a child-centered home.

3. Modeling sinful anger.

4. Habitually disciplining while angry.

5. Scolding.

6. Being inconsistent with discipline.

7. Having double standards.

8. Being legalistic.

9. Not admitting your'e wrong and not asking for forgiveness.

10. Constantly finding fault.

11. Parents Reversing God-given roles (ex:wives leading homes).

12. Not listening to your child's opinion or taking his or her 'side of the story' seriously.

13. Comparing them to others

14. Not making time 'just to talk'

15. Not praising or encouraging your child.

16. Failing to keep your promises.

17. Chastening in front of others.

18. Not allowing enough freedom.

19. Allowing too much freedom.

20. Mocking your child.

21. Abusing them physically.

22. Ridiculing or name calling.

23. Unrealistic expectations

24. Practicing Favoritism

25. Child training with worldly methodologies inconsistent with God's Word.

Stay at home mom encouragement

2009-08-14T17:18:00.000-07:00

"Thank God, O women, for the quietude of your home, and that you are queen in it. Men come at eventide to the home; but all day long you are there , beautifying it, sanctifying it, adorning it, blessing it. Better be there than wear a queen's coronet. Better be there than carry the purse of a princess. It may be a very humble home. There may be no carpet on the floor. There may be no pictures on the wall. There may be no silks in the wardrobe; but, by your faith in God, and your cheerful demeanor, you may garniture that place with more splendor than the upholsterer's hand ever kindled." ---Reverend T. DeWitt Talmage, D.D

Living One Day at a Time

2009-08-11T16:41:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else struggle with this? This is one of my "main" habits. I like to worry/contemplate about tomorrow when God clearly tells me that tomorrow is not promised and today has enough to work for us to concentrate on. I read this great quote by Theordore Roosevelt

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

I love it!

What I can: what CAN I do? What has God given me in my ability?

What I have: most people have SOMETHING they can give. Even if it is just our time. How do we use our precious time?

Where you are: STOP thinking about being somewhere else... someone else... God has put us exactly where He wants us and we would be wise to bloom where we are planted.

It is a must have for a happy life to take it one day at a time. His grace is sufficient for TODAY.

Who's in Charge Around Here?

2009-08-08T14:32:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I ask myself: "wait a minute! Who is in charge around here? Me or my kids?!" I am in charge. That is my God given authority and it is my responsibility to live that out!

I am reading a great book called: The Mother at Home. It is all about the important and great role we mothers play. No one else can replace us in our children's lives. If we fail to do our best then we fail dearly. There is grace. There is strength from the Lord. Yes. But don't let that give you reason to slack in your duty. A while back I talked at my friend Erica's baby shower about how our parenting (or lack of) will affect generations to come, not just the present. In a sense we parent thousands to come.

As we guide and raise our sweet children let's keep in mind that we are in charge and it is in everyone's (even those who don't exist yet) best interest that we keep it that way :0)

Great List of homeschool "musts"

2009-08-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

borrowed this list from Kelly Crawford.

At the top of our list of educational goals are:

A love and understanding of Scripture (the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.)
Teaching them to be self-learners. In my opinion, the government knows full-well how dangerous a society of self-learners can be, and has purposely created a system that convinces the masses they can only receive a real education through the transferring of information from a “professional”; such a concept ensures that people will be taught only what is “safe” for an engineered society. But for centuries, the most intelligent men and women of history were self-taught; the average high school graduate can not even decipher the writings of these historical intellects. I believe John Taylor Gatto when he says the system has purposely “dumbed down” our students. The proof is in the pudding.
Teaching them to think. Ask them questions, challenge their reasoning, and press them to give an answer for opinions they express.
Giving them a love of reading. Not all children will love to read as much as others; but from the very beginning, one of the most important things a parent can do is to read to their children, read in front of them, and make books an important part of life. Another thing is to read challenging books in their hearing, even if they don’t grasp it all. They need to hear rich language before they understand it, just as they need to hear simple language before they can speak it.
Communication skills. The ability to express one’s self is vitally important. Writing well and speaking well are invaluable assets in any choice of career or role in life. These skills usually come more naturally to a prolific reader, and the more parents verbally communicate with their children the better. (Another benefit, in my opinion, of not being dominated by a peer group for most of the day.)
Teaching them to be numerate. I’m not as concerned with whether my children pass trigonometry as I am that they are able to understand measurements and basic life-concepts of math. I made a B in college Calculus and still struggle making change at a yard sale
A love of arts. Poetry, music, beauty–whether it be an intricate composition of notes, or the simple, mysterious beauty in the arrangement of wildflowers, we seek to heighten an awareness of the order, creativity and beauty that makes up the very character of the God we serve.

3 years today!

2009-08-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

My husband and I have been married for three years today. Seems longer. Not because we have a horrible marriage but because we have such a great marriage. I can't imagine my life without him.

Things I love about my husband:

He is such a man (I shared this one at mommies' night out). He is manly. I don't know how to put it any other way. I LOVE IT! :0)

He loves God and His Word and He's not afraid to talk about it!

He loves our little kiddos so much.

He treats his parents well.

He provides and seeks ways to save money. I know he will ALWAYS take care of us.

He is continually seeking to be a better husband and receives my "hints" very well and humbly.

He is quick to apologize and forgive.

We can laugh together about things that no one else would find funny!

I am blessed.

homeschooling book sale

2009-08-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

My favorite blogger (Kelly Crawford) is having a sale on her e-book: Think Outside the Classroom. If you homeschool or are thinking about it I am sure this will be a good purchase!

Click here to check it out!

Foster Parenting

2009-08-04T13:14:00.001-07:00

My heart breaks for the thousands of orphans/abused children in america. I admire those who have chosen to be foster parents. Scott and I continue to discuss and pray about God's plan for our family.

Here is a short video on foster care.

More Homeschooling Advice

2009-08-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

Here is some more homeschooling advice. This time for family and friends of those who homeschool:

I found this lovely list posted by Kendra Fletcher on Preschoolers and Peace. It was too good not to share. (her blog doesn't exist anymore but I still wanted to give her credit).

___________________________________________________________________________________

If you are the mother, grandmother, sister, friend, father, or brother of a homeschooling mom, here are some things you should know:

1. Educating children at home is a full-time job. Don't get irritated if she consistently allows the answering machine to do its job. If she were a teacher in an institutional classroom, you probably wouldn't think of calling her during school hours, so try to realize that while still at home, she is keeping regular school hours, too.

2. Unlike homes in which the children are gone for eight straight hours, her home is in a constant state of activity. The children are not only home, they are home making messes. All day long. Their mother doesn't even have the opportunity to go into their rooms while they are at school and weed out the junk. And if she is like me, you might find odd homeschooly things lying around- like the month we had a dead turtle in the garage fridge.

3. Housekeeping and homeschooling are mutually exclusive. If she is doing her job educating her children academically, then her house is not being cleaned. If she takes the day to clean the house, then school will not be accomplished.

4. Place realistic expectations on her- she cannot simultaneously teach school, make three square meals, keep a house that looks like it has sprung out of the pages of Architectural Digest, have her nails done, drive children to extracurricular activities, and have all the clothing laundered and pressed. Something's gotta give, and in my experience, it is usually her personal care. So don't expect her to don the latest styles, have her roots meticulously dyed at just the right moment, and her aforementioned nails filed and polished to perfection. And while most of us aren't slovenly, we just tend to put some superfluous aspects of personal care at the bottom of the to-do list.

5. For many of us, homeschooling isn't an option. Many believe it is not only the best way for their family, it is the only way. Many see homeschooling as a Scriptural directive. When sharing a particular struggle unique to homeschooling, comments like, "Well, why don't you consider putting them in school? Maybe homeschooling just isn't your thing" aren't helpful. Instead, offer a listening ear and your fervent prayers on her behalf.

6. If you are truly concerned about the state of her emotions, home, children, or marriage, offer practical help to ease her burden. Personal time is at a premium for her, so consider offering to take her kids for the day so she can recuperate. If you like to do laundry, offer to come over and get the loads going, fold, and/or iron. If you like to cook, consider putting together some meals that she can store in the freezer for days when time is at a premium. If she teaches a broad spectrum of ages and grades, consider offering to come in once a week or more to teach preschool to the little ones. One grandma I know created "Nana U" for her preschool grandson (number five of seven) and not only did it ease her homeshooling daughter's burden, it created a special bond between grandma and the child.

But there’s a caveat here: ASK her what would be most helpful to her.Don’t presume to know what would help her. Taking the oldest children for the day might be fun for you, but it’s quite possibly not at all helpful to her. The living room might need to be vacuumed, but it’s not helpful if she’s trying to take a nap. Someone once told me, “If it’s not wanted, it’s not helpful.”

7. Think about what a financial burden homeschooling may be placing on the family. The loss of her possible income can be a real struggle nowadays, and you might be able to buoy her for another year by offering to purchase little things like simple school supplies. Gifts for the children like books on subjects of interest to the child, field trip fees, museum memberships, and the money to pay for music lessons or other extracurricular activities are the best thing you could give a homeschooling family. Not only does a homeschooling mom not need one more thing to manage or pick up, she would be thrilled to see you take an interest in the many academic items on her wish list.

8. Simple questions like, "How can I pray for you?" and "Is there any way I can help you?" are like a cool breeze in her life. Don't assume you know her needs- ask. You could just be the vessel God uses to carry her on through this very demanding and ultimately rewarding season of her life.

Poverty Facts

2009-08-03T12:26:00.000-07:00

I found these poverty facts on the compassion website.

• Children under age 18 make up 49 percent of the population of the world's least developed countries, compared with 21 percent of the population of the world's industrialized nations.

• More than 2 billion people lack access to electricity and modern forms of energy.

• More than 1 billion (one in five) people live on less than U.S.$1 a day.

• Every day, 1,600 women and more than 10,000 newborns globally die due to complications that could have been prevented.

• The annual world economy breaks down like this:

Low Income, $825 or less: 37%
Lower Middle Income, $826 to $3,255: 38%
Upper Middle Income, $3,256 to $10,065: 9%
High Income, $10,066 or more: 16%

• Approximately 143 million children in the developing world (one in 13) are orphans.

• More than 10 million children under age 5 die each year. Two-thirds of these deaths — more than 6 million deaths every year — are preventable.

• Approximately 41 percent of the world's poor people live in India.

Scott and I recently started sponsoring a child in Ethiopia. Her name is Galila. She is a precious girl and we are excited to be able to help her with her physical as well as spiritual needs through compassion.

Please consider sponsoring a child today. Just think of the difference you can make. I don't see any reason why we as rich americans can't help others out. Look at those facts above! So many people are in need out there! I praise God for compassion. They are doing an amazing job helping little ones who have no hope.

For just a little over a dollar a day you can change a child's life! Think of that. What sorts of things do you waste a dollar or dollars on all the time? That extra trip to the grocery store (gas money), that pointless toy for your child, the "treat" they just had to have (or you just had to have), the silly amounts we spend on coffee!, bottled water, and so much more. I am just as guilty. Scott and I are continually looking for ways that we can be better stewards of our money. I think one way we all can do that is put it toward a life that desperately needs it!

Unless a grain of wheat falls...

2009-08-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

We live in an opposite world. Opposite of what God would have for us. So much sin. So much pride. Lack of love. The world tells us to watch out for "number one" (ourselves) while God tells us that if any one desires to follow Him we must deny ourselves. The world tells woman to "stand up for themselves" while God calls women to be gentle and submissive. The world tells us to worry more about our looks then the condition of our hearts.

This scripture brilliantly describes how we are to die to ourself and why:

John 12:24-26

"I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains [just one grain; it never becomes more but lives] by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it, but anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. [Whoever has no love for, no concern for, no regard for his life here on earth, but despises it, preserves his life forever and ever.] If anyone serves Me, he must continue to follow Me [to cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying] and wherever I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him."

How can you die to yourself today?

What do they see?

2009-08-02T06:31:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's hard to look in the mirror. Sometimes we can take a hard look in the mirror, being God's Word, and not like what we see! God's Word has a way of revealing who we truly are. How He sees us.

If your children were to describe you what would they say? I really enjoyed/was convicted by this letter a mom wrote to herself... her old self. If we are a Christian we have an old (wo)man. We know her ugly ways and unfortunately our children and husbands see her come out too often!

This letter was addressed to: mean mommy. Here is part of it. I encourage you to read all of it.

"... First, I have determined in everything, to give thanks seeing that this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning me. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) I will rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4) for I am learning, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11, 13) When those doubts begin to creep in I will be confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in me will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

If you could just stop blustering and ordering everyone around long enough you might see an eternal perspective. You would realize that there is so much more to life in Christ than the day-in-and-day-out ups and downs. Step back for a moment from the immediate stressors. Why, there isn’t a hair that falls from my head that the Father is unaware of. He cares for birds and flowers in the field. How much more does He care for me and my family? (Matthew 6:25ff) Not only that, but He is working every circumstance in my life for my good and for the good of my children who love Him. (Romans 8:28)
Since I know that I must be sober, to love my husband, to love my children (Titus 2:4), I will be gentle among my little flock, even as a nursing mother cherishes her children: So being affectionately desirous of them, I will be willing to have imparted unto them, not the gospel of God only, but also my own soul, because they are dear unto me…even when I must labor night and day. (1 Thessalonians 2:7-9a) And most of all I will remember that charity—an antiquated term for our word love—suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity—or love—never faileth. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

If I have to, I will get really radical. When you show up, I intend to meet you at the door intent on bodily harm. For I see who you really are. You are the old (wo)man that Scripture speaks of so clearly. But I know this, that my old woman is crucified with Christ, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth I should not serve sin. (Romans 6:6) I will likewise reckon myself to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So I will let not sin therefore reign in my mortal body, that I should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield my members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield myself unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and my members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Romans 6:11-13) Because I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Prepared to do battle,
A Loving Mama"

Loving My Man

2009-07-31T16:45:00.001-07:00

If you have known me long enough you have heard me talk about my favorite book (after the bible of course). It is called: Created to be His Helpmeet. It has helped me greatly to know practical ways that I can bless and honor my husband and in that my God! Our Lord calls us to reverence and respect our husbands as unto to Him. We do it not for ourselves nor for our husbands, but for our Father in heaven.

My husband is what the book refers to as a command man. He is one hundred percent command man (the other two types are visionary and steady). He is an AWESOME leader, confident and constant. I loved being able to read about ways that MY husband best receives love and respect. Please read the rest of the article to find out about your husband. It will benefit your marriage greatly.

Why is it important for us to know our men? Because we are created to be helpers. We need to know how we can best help/serve our spouses. The woman was created for man, not man for woman. Once we get married it is important for us to ADAPT to our husbands the best we can so that we can fulfill our purpose. Once we seek to do this we will begin to see the fruit of it in our marriage.

It is much easier for a man to love his wife if she is submissive and encouraging. If we are nagging and stubborn we are asking for a cold, non-affectionate husband. 1 Peter 3 says that our husbands are to be obeyed no matter what (of course this does not include cases of abuse or if they are asking us to sin). It goes on to say that our husbands can be "won over" not by words (nagging, griping etc.) BUT by our actions.

Be encouraged ladies. God has a great marriage for you as you seek to be the wife He calls you to be. Not by the world's standards but by His!

Reactions Define You

2009-07-30T09:44:00.000-07:00

If you have been around me long enough you will have heard me say: "reactions define you." So true. Anyone can "keep their cool" when things are good. It's when there is poop on the walls, the littlest one won't stop crying and your two year old loves to say no to you that the real you in revealed.

I am not patient. God is working on me greatly to respond with gentle calmness in my voice no matter the circumstances. We should not let our surroundings decide how we are going to respond. Our responses flow from our heart. If we are in the Word and meditating on it day and night our response will be one of maturity and joy.

I am working on this when I am disciplining Rhea. I have to make sure she is not affecting me and I prove that with my tone of voice. Our tone says A LOT.

I found this quote:

Seeking to be happy

2009-07-29T06:20:00.000-07:00

The whole world wants to be happy. Don't we? Unfortunately we seek for it in the wrong places. God says happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied. God gives all sorts of recipes for happiness in His Word. Like this one from Psalm 40:

"Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who makes the Lord his refuge and trust, and turns not to the proud or to followers of false gods."

If we seek to be happy we should really seek the Lord. In Him alone is true joy. I love how this verse says that the happy person (blessed) will not turn to the proud or to those who follow false gods. Another way to say this is: "those who do not turn to the world and those who belong to the world."

In the amplified bible whenever the word blessed is used it gives the three words: happy, fortunate and envied. Check out biblegateway.com some time and type in the word blessed (using the amplified version). Look to God's Word for how you can be happy, not the world's words.

A few ways for me to be happy today:

Be in the Word

Be submissive and loving toward my husband

Teach and guide my children with love and joy

Listen to Godly things like sermons

Work diligently at beautifying my home

Think on what is pure, lovely, etc.

Focusing on our future with the Lord (listen to this sermon)

What are some ways you can be happy today?

Here are some things that will steal my happiness:

Focus on self

Too much time on internet

Thinking on worldly things

Letting my house get messy

Not loving my children and husband with patience

Staying out of God's Word

Worrying about tomorrow

Only the Lord can make us truly happy.

What I want to teach my children

2009-07-27T08:33:00.001-07:00

When children go to school the emphasis is for the most part academic. I don't know about you but I would guess out of the hundreds of hours I spent at a public school the things I learned are rarely used. (Another reason to homeschool). Reading is the exception. I definitely want to teach my children to read as well as to have a passion for reading. I am obviously not saying that there is no place for academics. There is. However we should focus on character and life skills. I think one of the best life skills we can teach our children is for them to know how to teach themselves.

Here are some things my husband and I want to emphasize and really seek to engrain into our children:

contentment

mow lawn (my husband's idea :0)

purity

honesty

servanthood

joy despite circumstances

loving the unlovable

a deep, personal, genuine love for God and His Word

Just to name a few. These are things that will definitely be used everyday for the rest of their lives (with the exception of the second one!) These are things I wish I would have been taught as early as possible.

It's important that we keep in mind our children will most likely be parents and spouses some day. What kind of qualities do we want them to bring to motherhood/fatherhood and marriage?

Most importantly we need to be MODELING these things in our lives. Remember, doing is a much better teaching tool then telling. Nobody likes a hypocrite. It's hard to learn anything from a hypocrite... except how to be a hypocrite!

What do you want to teach your children?

The Heart IS the Matter

2009-07-25T19:45:00.000-07:00

"Stopping the action does not cure the problem." -Britt Merrick. So true. The heart is the matter. Not the action. If you get an alcoholic to stop drinking it doesn't mean they don't crave alcohol. If you get someone to stop yelling it doesn't mean they don't struggle with anger. Jesus told the pharisees they were like white washed tombs, pretty on the outside and dead on the inside. Jesus sees our hearts. He knows if we are pure or just carrying out the actions, (that's called religion). We have a Lord that wants us to transfer these passions to Him. Leave them at the cross. Don't we all long for that? For our worldly lusts to be transformed into a deep love for our Creator? We need a heart a transplant, not just a change of action. (Although a change of action is good too).

Please listen to this sermon. It encouraged me greatly to not just DO the right thing but to seek something greater: a pure heart.

Pride vs. Humility

2009-07-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

My best friend Chelsey is getting her masters at Masters college in biblical counseling. She has been sharing some great nuggets of truth with me. She recently sent me the notes pasted below on pride. Jesus is the picture of humility. Laying down His life for all. Oh Lord, please help me to be more like Your Son and less like myself...

Manifestations of Pride

Complaining against or passing judgment on God (Numbers 14:1-4, 9, 11; Romans 9:20)

A lack of gratitude (2 Chronicles 32:25) (because you think you deserved that act of kindness) (pride doesn't see that you deserve hell and anything above hell is a blessing)

Anger (Proverbs 28:25; Matthew 20:1-16) (a tip off of pride - something im wanting Im not getting... someone damaged my reputation... someone isnt meeting my needs... its about ME)

Seeing yourself as better than others (Luke 7:36-50)

Having an inflated view of your importance, gifts and abilities (Acts 12:21-23)

Being focused on the lack of your gifts and abilities (1 Cor. 12:14-25) (SELF FOCUSED)

Perfectionism (Matthew 23:24-28) (because someone excels in one or two areas... and they are not faithful in the rest of the areas... they want some sort of recognition... no one puts that much time and effort into something without wanting recognition) (God calls us to faithfulness, not perfection!!!!)

Talking too much (Proverbs 10:19) (when your not forced to speak - why are you still talking??? - what is your motive?)

Talking too much about yourself (Proverbs 27:2; Galatians 6:3)

Seeking independence or control (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Ephesians 5:21) (you were not made to be independent, but dependent upon God and interdependent on others)

Being consumed with what others think (Galatians 1:10) (approval - fear of man!)

Being devastated or angered by criticism (Proverbs 13:1) (You had such a high view of yourself that when someone doesn't agree -- you shut down!)

Being unteachable (Proverbs 19:20; John 9:13-34)

Being sarcastic, hurtful, degrading, talking down to them(Proverbs 12:18, 24) (laughing about someone else - so that you feel better about yourself)

A lack of service (Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 2:10)

A lack of compassion (Matthew 5:7, 18:23-35)

Being defensive or blame-shifting (Genesis 3:12-13; Proverbs 12:1) (thinking you couldn't have possibly done something wrong)

A lack of admitting when you are wrong (Proverbs 10:17)

A lack of asking forgiveness (Matthew 5:23-24)

A lack of biblical prayer (Luke 18:10-14)

Resisting authority or being disrespectful (1 Peter 2:13-17)

Voicing preferences or opinions when not asked (Philippians 2:1-4) (You want others to know what you prefer) (keep your preferences to yourself! - think of others)

Minimizing your own sin and shortcomings (Matthew 7:3-5)

Maximizing others’ sin and shortcomings (Matthew 7:3-5; Luke 18:9-14)

Being impatient or irritable with others (Ephesians 4:31-32) (no one is on my schedule)

Being jealous or envious (1 Corinthians 13:4) ( I should have that... I deserve this)

Using others (Matthew 7:12; Philippians 2:3-4) (just a means to an end)

Being deceitful by covering up sins, faults, and mistakes (Proverbs 11:3; 28:13) (not being quick to ask for forgiveness) (you don't have to constantly talk about your faults - but you must be quick to repent!)

Using attention-getting tactics (1 Peter 3:3,4)

Not having close relationships (Proverbs 18:1-2; Hebrews 10:24-25)

Adoption

2009-07-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

I was very sick this morning. Identical to how I feel when pregnant. It sobered me greatly. (I am not pregnant. took two tests) Watching my children, keeping a home and being a good wife go out the window when I am pregnant. I started contemplating adoption (I have thought of adoption since I was a little girl). So many children out there with no one to call mom or dad.

There are over 100,000 orphans just within America! Waiting to be invited into someone's home.

The Lord knows the future for our family. I pray that some day we will adopt children so we can love them with His love.

Here are a few sites with good info and videos!

heart for orphans

orphan facts

One of Steven Curtis Chapman's daughters talks about "hidden treasures"

Thousands of pics of orphans in America

Family Testimonies

Wasting time part 2

2009-07-20T16:30:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like this guy in the picture? Like your drowning in time? I continue to ponder the idea of wasting time and it seems many other bloggers are doing the same. One post that blessed my heart so much can be found here. Could you imagine if we lived everyday from the perspective of our death bed? Would we regret not watching more tv? Not being on the internet enough? Not cleaning our house more? (I do believe our homes should be clean. but even cleaning can become an idol.) No of course not! We would regret not having more hugs with our kiddos and hubbies! We would regret not spending more time worshipping our King. Oh to have this eternal perspective! We certainly would have the ability to naturally spend our time wisely! Pasted below is another convicting article on not wasting our precious time on useless things.

Guidelines for Using Our Time Wisely

From Holy Living and Holy Dying, Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667)

Edited by Marvin D. Hinten

1. In the morning, when you awaken, accustom yourself to think first upon God; and at night, let Him close your eyes. Let your rest be health ful and necessary, not just idle time.

2. Let all your intervals or open moments of time be employed in prayer, reading, meditation, exercise, and acts of friendship.

3. Sundays and holidays are in no sense mere days of idleness. It is better to work on Sundays than to do nothing. Instead of idly wasting time, let those days be spent doing charitable and reli gious work.

4. Avoid the company of all who talk too much without a purpose. No one can be careful in his use of time who is careless in his choice of com pany, for when a conversationalist continually speaks emptiness or trivia, all who listen or answer waste their time.

5. Never engage in any trifling activity merely to pass the time away, for every day well spent can become a "day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2 NW), and any time rightly used is an "opportune moment" (Ps. 69:13). The time you trifle away was given to you to repent, to pray, to lay up heavenly treasure

6. While working, go often to God in brief prayers. These times of prayer can make up the lack of devotional time, which others may have, and which you wish you had. Be sure of this: God is as present at your breathed prayers on the job as at the longer prayers of those who are less employed

7. Let your employment be fitting for a reasonable person. A person may be idle though busy. There are entire occupations devoted to vanity and foolishness that deserve to be banned. And there are some people who are genuinely busy, but it is in the way the Emperor Domitian once claimed to be busy: catching flies

8. Let those who are independently wealthy or retired be extra careful in their use of time. Let them choose good company and learn useful things. Let them visit the poor and relieve their needs, pray often, and read good books

9. Everyone should avoid excessive attention to appearance. Many people primp and comb away all their opportunities for morning devotions.

10. People should avoid idle curiosity and inquiring into things that do not concern them. Of course, we should be aware of the needs of our fellow believers, but one need not be a gossip to learn his brothers' needs.

11. As much as possible, cut off all useless occupa tions of your life: unnecessary meetings, day dreaming, reading about celebrities, or however time is spent to no real purpose.

12. Do not spend time lavishly in recreation, but choose leisure activities that are healthful, brief, and refreshing. Avoid games that require too much time or involvement, or which are likely to dominate your thoughts. Do not dwell upon them or make them your major enterprises. And don't think that spectator sports are real exercise. A person who passively spends his time watching sports and calls it exercise makes about as much sense as a person who wears a belt without wear ing any pants. It is permissible to relax our bow but not to unstring it.

13. Set aside some parts of every day specifically for prayer and devotion. Events may force you to shorten your devotional time occasionally, but do not omit it under anything less than absolute necessity.

14. Do God's work attentively. Do not let your hands be folded in prayer while your thoughts are on the world. Do not pray negligently. Put forth all your strength.

15. Fill hours of insomnia with prayer, since you have no requirements on your time then.

16. The busy person should set aside a holy time every year in which, ignoring his occupation, he may give himself wholly to fasting and prayer, to confession and attention to God.

17. Before we sleep we might well examine our actions during the day, especially anything unusual. For our failures we will have sorrow, and for our victories we will have thanksgiving.

18. All these points should be used wisely, not vex ingly. These guidelines have advantages, but they are not divine commandments, at least not their specifics. Every person may select whatever process enables him to do his Christian duty. A man will be happy when he can use every hour in a useful or holy way, but our duty does not consist in just scrupulously examining how we use our minutes (provided no minute is engaged in sin).

19. The habit of using time wisely will influence our whole lives, and will especially benefit us in two ways. It doesn’t just teach us to avoid evil but encourages us to do good. And it causes us to be ready and eager for the Lord’s return at any time.

My Three Favorite Places to visit

2009-07-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

These Godly women teach me so much! enjoy.

http://www.generationcedar.com/main/

http://makinghome.blogspot.com/

http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/

Rhea turned two!

2009-07-18T12:21:00.000-07:00

Click here to see us sing happy birthday to my sweet girl!

A Sacrifice of Praise

2009-07-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

I had talked to a couple girlfriends recently about my struggle with postpartum depression after the birth of both my babies. It is amazing how powerful our hormones can be! Something that encouraged me greatly, and I hope encourages you in your "down" times, is that we can offer up a sacrifice of praise when feeling sad. I remember sitting on the couch singing this song holding Rhea. The song washed over me as I sang to the Lord. It is only in our trying times that it is a SACRIFICE to praise, right? I mean, what kind of sacrifice is it to praise the Lord when all is well?

This scripture puts into words beautifully what I am talking about: Hebrews 13:15 "Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name."

The key to joy in this life is to get the focus off ourselves and onto God or others. God receives glory when we praise Him in the storm. Try it out today!

p.s. here is another great one to sing!

Infertility

2009-07-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

I am not infertile but I can only imagine the pain with being so. I found this post on a woman's blog who is infertile. To read the whole article click here. I found this to be very insightful. If you are able to conceive I don't think you or I, can even imagine what it would be like to not be able to. This woman put into sad words the pain she experiences. I think it gives keen insight into what not to say!

Fertility issues are so many bits of pain:

*not sharing with family members about your health, for fear of getting their hopes up and being a disappointment to everyone.

*being called selfish for having been married "too long" to not yet have children.

*being asked embarrassing questions about your love life and receiving "tips" from those who feel they have special insight into why a child has not yet been conceived.

*the stab in your heart upon receiving a monthly update email from Enfamil, for your "five month old baby" --the one you miscarried last year.

*being berated for the selfishness of having a "lonely only" or being called a "hobbyist mother" as if these unfortunate circumstances were your choice or doing.

*not sharing about a pregnancy until baby is past the point of viability, as you've already learn that embarrassing lesson last time around.

*being constantly asked about when you will make someone a grandparent for the first time or when a sibling will be joining the family, as if you are somehow causing the problem and have control over the situation.

*crying every month as yet another Big Fat NEGATIVE result comes on a pregnancy test, the 36th you've received in three years time.

*having "radar" & zeroing in on every pregnant woman when you are out & about or having tunnel vision towards every baby who would have been old as your should be right now.

*feeling like a failure as a wife, as a daughter, as a sister, as a mother, for not producing the baby that would add another generation to the family and/or a sibling for the child/ren you already have.

*sobbing on the bathroom floor at a friends baby shower because shes pregnant on the first try after you've tried everything and have yet to become a mom.

*being told you'll never conceive and knowing you can never afford to adopt, all while millions of babies are unloved this very evening.

*feeling nasty self righteousness and great devastation and anger when the news reports of someone who drowned their baby in the toilet or you think of the millions of baby's aborted each year, wondering why God couldn't give one of these babies to you, for you'd love him/her with all your heart and would never kill such a precious gift.

*another anniversary with a "fun" childless vacation when you want nothing more than a little newborn's cry waking you up every morning, before the crack of dawn.

*feeling as if you are the barren sister in a fertility cult, as everyone around you is expecting or just had a baby.

*dreading "the question" when it comes up everywhere, even during small talk with a stranger in a doctors waiting room.

A speech for mothers from a 1838 tea party

2009-07-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

SO good!

"MY DEAR FRIENDS--
Our meeting today has special reference to ourselves and to our children. We meet as mothers, to provoke one another to love and to good works--to call up to remembrance our past negligences, and to combine our renewed determinations to serve God in our families, with earnest supplication for the divine assistance and blessing. Standing, as we do, on the brink of the old year and the borders of the new, surely it is an appropriate season for devout acknowledgment, tenderhearted confession, and united prayer. If our heavenly Father will require at our hands that which is past, shall we not carefully review it, and seriously inquire, "What have I done?" What have I done for my own soul--what have I done for the eternal welfare of my beloved children? Have I been faithful to my solemn responsibility? Have I walked before my house with a perfect heart? Have I uniformly regarded my children as a sacred trust, and has it been my unremitting concern to train them up for Christ? Have I had my heart deeply affected with their lost and unsaved condition? Have I wept over their impenitence and unbelief, and have I tried by every means, and by every discussion, to bring them to the Great Physician? Have I sought His aid by hearty, frequent, and special prayer, nothing doubting, but "strong in faith, giving glory to His name?" Have I consulted the Bible as the rule of my conduct towards them, just as diligently as I should consult a guidebook, if I had to undertake a long and arduous journey? Have I conversed with them, according to their ages and circumstances, on spiritual subjects, so as to touch their consciences, to win their affections, and to convince them that there is nothing so important to me as their salvation? Have I endeavored for their sakes to be spiritually minded, to cultivate my mind, to restrain my appetites, to control my feelings, and to grow in the exercise of every Christian grace?
Alas for us, my friends! Who can lay her hand upon her heart and say, "I have washed my hands in innocency?" Not one. Are we not individually ready to confess our manifold offenses towards our offspring? Do we not, even on this hasty recollection, call to mind much that we would fain obliterate? Are we not sensible of yielding to slothfulness and indifference? Have we not often restrained prayer, or prayed with faint expectation of success? Has not our example been frequently of the worst description--worldly, trifling, and unprofitable? Have we not given them an unlovely representation of the religion we profess, by the indulgence of those dispositions which Christianity is mighty to subdue? If, then, dear friends, our children are still in darkness--still in spiritual bondage--still unsanctified, let us not reflect upon Providence, but upon ourselves. If we are to have a change in them, ought there not also to be a change in us? Let us, as mothers, apply ourselves more seriously to discover our individual errors. One may err by excessive indulgence--another by undue severity; one may slight prayers--another may neglect corresponding effort. There are innumerable ways in which we may prejudice their minds and harden their hearts. What then are we to do? And here I would say, we must be more thoughtful. Inconsideration is at the root of much that is wrong in families and individuals. We do not devote sufficient time to quiet, patient, solitary thought. We adopt a system suited to our inclinations, and pursue it with little examination as to its effects. We are contented to do as others do, not striving to do better. Then we must be more in earnest for our children's salvation. If we were truly set on this, how should we explore the Word of God for its hidden consolations--its promises and its instructions! How should we pursue our inquiries of those whom God has been pleased to bless, and how should we watch as those who must soon give their account! Look at the vigilance and care of the gardener, rising early and late, taking no rest, anticipating every atmospheric change, studying every characteristic variety in his tender plants, now exposing them to the sun, now screening them from its power, and pursuing the greatest diversity of means to one end--the perfection of the young vegetable. Ah! Have we the hearts of mothers, and can we be satisfied whilst any one of our children is living "without God and without hope in the world?" Impossible! The supposition shocks us; and yet, to exemplify and carry out this earnestness, involves a life of much diligence, of daily self-denial, of increasing devotedness. Added to this, and connected with it in all its details, must be prayer--importunate, unceasing prayer: not the prayer which is offered up and forgotten, but the prayer which is attended by an unquenchable desire, and succeeded by a well-directed effort;--prayer founded on the promise of the covenant, and which will not be denied. When we have such consideration, such earnestness, and such prayer, we shall not be long without a blessing.
Should we not embrace every day as a favorable opportunity put into our hands, and redeem it for advancing their spiritual interests? If every mother would keep this subject uppermost in her thoughts, and secretly resolve to let no day pass without a direct effort for her children's good, much would be gained. If she would apply herself to their characters, tastes, and habits, sympathize with them in their useful pursuits, invite their confidence, and accommodate herself to their youthful feelings, she might persuade them to cooperate with her in higher and holier undertakings. O, how desirable it would be to gather our children around us at the opening or at the close of each day, and read with them a portion of the sacred Scriptures, making our own remarks, and inviting theirs! And surely this may be done, if we set about it in the right way, and in the right spirit. Let children themselves arrange the plan, and they will carry it out with greater interest. Let them keep a short record of the time thus profitably spent, and they will recur to it with much satisfaction. Especially let us enter afresh into our closets, and there implore a double measure of divine grace to rest upon us. We all feel how much our usefulness to others depends on the state of our own souls. Let us therefore begin at home--begin with ourselves, and proceed, as Job proceeded, to intercede for every individual of our beloved circle. O, we ought not to despair of the divine goodness! God waits to be gracious; he loves to be entreated; and instead of rebuking us for our importunity, He says, "Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

Great Thoughts on our King!

2009-07-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

In proportion to your devotion to the Savior will be the blessedness of your life.

The greatest saint on earth has got to reach Heaven on the same terms as the greatest sinner; unworthy, unfit, good-for-nothing; but saved through grace.

One minute of nearness to the Lord Jesus contains more delight than years spent in communion with any earthly friend.

You never will be really happy until Christ becomes your dearest and most intimate friend.

Seek God, not joy.

What does it profit?

2009-07-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

Speaking of wasting time. I spent way too much time fretting and worrying last night. Kept me up too late. God tells us not to worry. It profits us nothing. God's grace is sufficient for today and therefore I must trust it will be sufficient for tomorrow. To listen to an AWESOME sermon on this subject click here.

Wasting Time?

2009-07-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

Wasting time. What does it mean to you? I think some things we consider wasting time might be the best use of our time. Like...

1. Sitting with our children on the floor playing

2. Kissing my little baby over and over

3. reading a "silly" book to my two year old

4. cuddling with our husbands

5. just sitting outside and enjoying the outdoors

There are so many ways to use our time isn't there? Have you ever heard the saying: "Do you love life? Then do not waste time for that is what life is made of."? The important thing is to have God's perspective on using the time He has given us. The question is: How can we impact eternity while living here on earth?

There are only two things that last forever that we have now: The Word of God and people. If we are "wasting time" on either of these then we are making good use of our time. We can't take our house with us. It won't matter if it was perfectly clean or not. We can't take our computer with us. We can't take the television with us. It won't matter if you got to watch that "one show". We can't take our cell phones with us. You get my drift. "Waste time" on things that last and you will have no regrets.

Nancy Leigh Demoss did a series on priorities. You can check it out by clicking here. A few scriptures she pointed out ministered to me in regards on how we should prioritize our time. Here is what she said:

"Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6, verse 33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” Seek His ways. Seek His pathway. Seek His kingdom. Seek what matters to Him. And all these other things in life that are not the priority—the ones that you need will be added unto you.

Proverbs chapter 4, verse 7: “Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom.” Where does wisdom come from? What is wisdom? Wisdom is looking at all of life from God’s point of view. Proverbs says that wisdom is the principle thing. Get God. Get a relationship with God. Get His perspective on life.

Colossians chapter 1, verse 18: “The goal,” Paul says, “is that in all things Christ might have the pre-eminence” (paraphrased). Pre-eminence. What does that word mean? I looked it up this morning. It means to be first—that Christ might be first. The head of all things. The spring of all things. The fountain of all of life. The supremacy of Christ. This is my priority.

Psalm chapter 27, verse 4, the Psalmist said, “One thing I have desired [one thing] of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple.” The Psalmist said, “My number one priority in life is to live in the presence of God, to learn from Him, to love Him with all my heart.”

Jesus said to the harried Martha, busy doing something very important, but missing out on the priority. He said, “Martha, only one thing is needful in life. One thing is absolutely necessary and that is your relationship with Me” (Luke 10:22, paraphrased). That’s what supremely matters.

Now, if we’re going to have first things first, if we’re going to prioritize God’s priorities for our lives (and the first one of those for every believer being a relationship with God), we’ve got to remember the necessity of the Word of God and spending time with God in His Word. Jesus said, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4, NIV).

Job chapter 23, verse 12, Job said, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” You want to fulfill that number one priority in life? It’s impossible apart from spiritual food, and we get that spiritual food in the Word of God. That means there has to be time in my day to be in the Word, to be in the presence of God, to be listening to God, to be responding to God."

Great Prayer

2009-07-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about prayer a lot. When we do "prayer requests" I ponder what the apostles prayed for others. Here is a great prayer that Paul had for the philippians.

Philippians 1:9-10

"And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment, so that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences, and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach the day of Christ not stumbling nor causing others to stumble."

Now that's a prayer! Next time your wondering what to pray for someone, try this one out!

The Frontier Way...

2009-07-12T07:35:00.000-07:00

Oh the good old days. My friend Tammy turned me on to this show called Frontier House. I love it! Makes me appreciate all that I have now. All the conveniences. All the luxuries. I heard one time that with all the equipment we have to help with dishes, food, laundry etc. it would be equal to 10 servants back in the frontier life!

Enjoy this clip from the show. Click here.

No sense crying over spilled... Poop?

2009-07-10T13:02:00.001-07:00

Well, my daughter has a new lovely habit. Pooping outside. She doesn't have a diaper on though. Why? you ask. Good question. Because I have her take it off to go in her mini pool. Those swimmer diapers are too expensive to be putting them on her and throwing away every time she wants to go "swimming" (which averages about 10 minutes). So you follow the logic right? right?...

So anyway, where was I?... ah yes, spilled poop. Usually Rhea comes running to me inside and says "Pee! Pee!" Which means poop. So I go out there and pick if up with some napkins throw it away and throughly was our hands. Worked fine. Well today she decided to play with the poop and then decided to come inside and tell me "Pee! Pee!" When I looked at her nasty little hands I was disgusted. I went outside to find poop smeared around... I was about to lose my cool. And then I thought of proverbs 17:27 "a man of understanding has a cool spirit." Understanding what? I think when we realize how silly it is to get upset and "lose our cool" over things like spilled poop, we gain understanding. We must view all things in light of eternity. My poor husband has to put up with my hysteria over silliness too often. I also thought of Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." If I would only see the preciousness of each day I would gain a heart of wisdom knowing that life is too short to "lose it" over trivial, fixable things.

So next time the milk spills, a plate breaks, the poop is smeared... keep eternity in mind. Keep your cool and then you shall begin to gain a heart of wisdom and understanding.

My Kind of homeschooling...

2009-07-10T06:35:00.001-07:00

In researching homeschooling I have found the Charlotte Mason method to be my favorite so far. I have pasted below an excerpt from a website describing her methods. If you want to see more click here.

Charlotte Mason was a British educator who lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Her method, the Charlotte Mason method, is centered around the idea that education is three-pronged: Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.

By “Atmosphere,” Charlotte meant the surroundings in which the child grows up. A child absorbs a lot from his home environment. Charlotte believed that atmosphere makes up one-third of a child’s education.

By “Discipline,” Charlotte meant the discipline of good habits — and specifically habits of character. Cultivating good habits in your child’s life make up another third of his education.

The other third of education, “Life,” applies to academics. Charlotte believed that we should give children living thoughts and ideas, not just dry facts. So all of her methods for teaching the various school subjects are built around that concept.

For example, Charlotte’s students used living books rather than dry textbooks. Living books are usually written in story form by one author who has a passion for the subject. A living book makes the subject “come alive.”

She taught spelling by using passages from great books that communicate great ideas rather than just a list of words.

She encouraged spending time outdoors, interacting with God’s creation firsthand and learning the living ways of nature.

You can see many other living methods she used on this methods chart.

Many homeschoolers have adopted her philosophy and methods as they seek to educate the whole child, not just his or her mind.

Responsibility

2009-07-09T15:43:00.000-07:00

I like this picture of a mother with her son. As we guide our children through this life we carry great responsibility. One of those responsibilities is consistent discipline. I am reading a book called: The Mother at Home by John Abbot. The first chapter is titled "Responsibility".

Here is an excerpt from this chapter that pierced my heart:

"His character is now, in an important sense, in your hands, and you are to form it for good or evil. If you are consistent in your government, and faithful in the discharge of your duties, your child will probably through life revere you and be your solace of your declining years...It is true that there are many mothers who feel their responsibilities perhaps as deeply as it is best they should feel them. But there are many others-even Christian mothers-who seem to forget that their children will ever be less under their control than they are while young. And they are training them up, by indecision and indulgence, soon to tyrannize over their parents with a rod of iron-and to pierce their hearts with many sorrows. If you are unfaithful to your child when he is young, he will be unfaithful to you when he is old. If you indulge him in all his foolish and unreasonable wishes when he is a child when he becomes a man he will indulge himself; he will gratify every desire of his heart and your sufferings will be rendered the more poignant by the reflection that it was your own unfaithfulness which has caused his ruin. If you would be the happy mother of a happy child, give your attention, and your efforts and your prayers, to the great duty of training him up for God and heaven."

Can we say sobering?...

spanking...

2009-07-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Another touchy subject and one I know little about. I thought I knew enough but now I am questioning myself. when to spank? how to spank? what should I spank with? should I spank for pouting, whining...?

Last night was the first night I used a rod (a paddle) to spank Rhea. It was MUCH more effective then my hand has been. It was hard for me. I had to remind myself of scriptures that the Lord used to describe how we should discipline our children:

Prov. 13:24 "He who spares his rod of discipline hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines diligently and punishes him early."

Prov. 22:15 "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him."

Prov. 23:13-14 "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. ¹⁴ Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death."

Prov. 29:15 "The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother."

I don't spank because I want to. I spank because God says it works. I know the more consistent I am with delivering appropriate discipline at the appropriate time the more peaceful my home will be.

I emailed someone whom I consider to be one of my closest friends and mentors (Naida) and asked her what she thought. Here is what she said:

1.If you say "no" and she stops, no spanking.

2. If you say "no" and she doesn't stop, spanking.

3. Warning: "If you do that (be specific what it is she shouldn't be doing) and she does it, spanking.

4. With things like hitting and whining - spanking. Reiterating after the incident is a good reminder.

more to come...

Borrowed Post: True Christian Motherhood

2009-07-08T08:32:00.000-07:00

Here is another borrowed post from another one of my favorite bloggers. You can find her at: Proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com

How should a Christian mother view children?

1. As a gift and miracle from God and not as drudgery.

2. She has been entrusted by God to care for them for their time on earth.

3. She delights in them and is thankful for them, even on hard days.

4. She is protective, never bad-mouthing her children to others or slandering them.

5. She understands that they are the next generation entrusted with the Gospel.

6. She knows their souls are precious to God and He knows the number of every hair on their head.

7. She knows she is accountable to God for how she raises them so she faithfully sacrifices her love, her patience and her life for them.

8. She understands that even as they are in a state of infancy now that this precious season is quickly fleeting and in a blink of an eye they will grow up---so she savors the moment.

9. She welcomes the number of children the Lord gives her and treasures each one in her heart because she knows the He has a purpose for each and every single one--- even if the world doesn't see it that way. She rejects the lie that children are a burden.

10. She understands and embraces the future--she knows her job is not done when her children graduate from high school or when they turn eighteen, instead it continues on until she takes her last breath.

11. As she cares for a crying infant or sick child she realizes it is part of God's great plan to mold her into becoming a nurturing mother and into the image of Christ.

12. She acknowledges that she is the best one to take care of them as God has chosen to give them to her. She understands her children in a way that a stranger cannot. She realizes that mothering is her sacred work and is careful not neglect her responsibilities. She is protective over who cares for her children.

13. She recognizes her season with little ones and uses wisdom. She tries to surround herself with like minded women who are going through the same season or have been through it and can encourage and support her.

14. The Christian mother does not rely Oprah, Dr. Phil or the latest trends in parenting magazines for wisdom but instead searches God's Word to help her raise her family because it is the source of all truth.

15. She clearly understands that her and her husband are anundivided team when it comes to parenting their children and respectfully allows him to lead the home. She knows that if she is dominating, controlling or manipulating she would destroy her home so she purposefully learns to trust God on matters of submission.

16. She wisely spends her time in prayer---for herself to be a godly mother, for her husband to be a godly father and for children's salvation and their futures. She knows her time in prayer is neverwasted time.

17. The Christian mother seeks to educate her children about the Lord so she wisely invests her days teaching them all she knows about Him and His Word.

18. When her season of raising her children has passed, she looks forward to investing her time and love into her grandchildren as they arrive. She doesn't try to move far away to 'begin living her life' but instead she considers them a blessing and her love for them evident. She considers it an honor to take part in their lives. She is loyal encourager and faithfully supports her children in raising her grandchildren

Going Green..?

2009-07-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

There is something so appealing to me about "Going Green." The only unappealing thing is that it seems to be mostly popular in the secular society vs. the Christian society. Why is that?...

I long to live on a farm where we grow all our own crops and have little animals that provide for us as well. I want my family to work and play together on our own land. I want to live in a community where being wasteful is looked down upon and where we are teaching our children (and ourselves) to make the most with what we have! I know, I know, I should be amish... but the problem there is that they isolate themselves too much from society. Can we say "no evangelizing" ? I want to be in the world but not of it. I need to be "out in the open" to share Christ.

I feel we as Christians should take care of the earth we have, eat better, use less energy, be more self-sufficient etc. This takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice. We live in an "instant, I want it now, culture" where sacrifice and hard work are hardly popular.

I found this great video of a family that is doing what I dream of. They live in Pasendena Ca. and live on 1/5 of an acre and they are very close to being self-sufficient. Maybe someday... Lord willing of course (and husband willing too :0)

Enjoy this video! (just click on the post title above: going green)

Birth Control=Abortion

2009-07-01T20:24:00.000-07:00

I wrote on this before. I found a great video that describes how birth control cause abortions. Explains it better than I ever could. Just click on this post's title and it will take you to the link.

The Narrow Way

2009-07-01T16:09:00.000-07:00

Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it."

I have been contemplating this passage A LOT

lately but in a broader sense then usual. I have

been thinking about the narrow way AFTER we

become Christians. We must continue to walk in

the narrow way and not the wide path after we are

saved. The choice to go the less traveled path

continues for life.

Some ways I choose the narrow way:

Guarding what my eyes see.

Guarding what my ears hear.

Seeking to grow and not remain stagnant as a

christian women.

Watching how I spend my time and money.

There are so many ways we must choose to not

walk like the world or in some sad cases, as other

Christians. We must seek the narrow way of Christ!

My friend Kathy sent me this article via email. I feel it put into words what I am talking

about.

Others May, You Cannot

"If God has called you to be really like Jesus, He will draw you to a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.

Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it; and if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent. "Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their success, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence on Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants you to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others be great, but keep you small.

He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit of it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more precious, He may let others get the credit for the work which you have done, and thus make your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own.

He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you. But if you absolutely sell yourself to be His...slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.

Settle it forever, then, that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others.

Now when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of Heaven."

–G. D. Watson

Borrowed Post: Goals for Motherhood

2009-06-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

I copied this post from one of my favorite bloggers. She can be found at shelookethwell.blogspot.com.

Goals for Motherhood

1. Lay down my life and my plans to serve the Lord and my family.
If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself (disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests and take up his cross. (Mt. 16:24)

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brother. (1 John 3:16)

2. Only kind and gentle words and tone.
She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. (Pr. 31:26)

She must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered; she must be a skilled teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong. She must correct her opponents with courtesy and gentleness... (2 Tim 2:24, 25)

3. Be compassionate and merciful—what they are feeling is BIG to them.
Bear one another’s burdens and in this way fulfill and observe the law of Christ.
(Gal. 6:2)

Execute true judgment and show mercy and kindness and tender compassion, every man to his brother. (Zech. 7:9)

4. Get up and go to them—no parenting from the couch—be consistent and prompt.

5. Create a happy atmosphere.

6. Light up and Smile all the time.

7. Look at them—Listen to them—Touch them

8. Be joyful and happy!
Serve the Lord with gladness! (Ps. 100:2)

Be happy and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always) (1Thes. 5:16)

9. Encourage and Praise every day, all day!
Encourage one another and edify, strengthen and build up on another. (2 Thes. 5:11)

And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over on another, studying how we may stir up to love and helpful deeds. (Heb. 10:24)

10. Love with ACTION!
Let us not love merely in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth. (1 Jn. 3:18)

Love one another, giving precedence and showing honor to one another. (Ro. 12:10)

Be patient and kind. Not rude or touchy. Do not act unbecomingly or insist on your own way. Always believe the best. (1 Cor. 13)

I recently found these goals I wrote from several years ago. It was a wonderful treasure to find.

I can see I have grown some. And I can surely see there is much work to be done. Thank you Lord for Your mercy, grace and patience!

What about you ladies, what are your goals for being a Mama?

more reasons to home school

2009-06-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

I found this great list of 55 reasons to home school. (I got it from www.nhen.org)

1. Spend more time together as a family. 2. Spend more time with children when they are rested and fresh rather than tired and cranky from school. 3. Avoid having to struggle to get children to do the tedious busywork that is so often sent home as homework. 4. Allow children time to learn subjects not usually taught in their school. 5. Allow children to have time for more in-depth study than what is allowed in school. 6. Allow children to learn at their own pace, not too slow or too fast. 7. Allow children to work at a level that is appropriate to their own developmental stage. Skills and concepts can be introduced at the right time for that child. 8. Provide long, uninterrupted blocks of time for writing, reading, playing, thinking, or working so that the child is able to engage in sophisticated, complex activities and thought processes. 9. Encourage concentration and focus – which are discouraged in crowded classrooms with too many distractions. 10. Encourage the child to develop the ability to pace her/himself – this is prevented in a classroom where the schedule is designed to keep every child busy all the time. 11. Spend a lot of time out-of-doors. This is more healthy than spending most weekdays indoors in a crowded, and often overheated, classroom. 12. Spending more time out-of-doors results in feeling more in touch with the changing of the seasons and with the small and often overlooked miracles of nature. 13. Children learn to help more with household chores, developing a sense of personal responsibility. 14. Children learn life skills, such as cooking, in a natural way, by spending time with adults who are engaged in those activities. 15. More time spent on household responsibilities strengthens family bonds because people become more committed to things they have invested in (in this case, by working for the family). 16. Time is available for more nonacademic pursuits such as art or music. This leads to a richer, happier life. 17. Children will not feel like passive recipients of subject matter selected by their teachers. They will learn to design their own education and take responsibility for it. 18. Children will realize that learning can take place in a large variety of ways. 19. Children will learn to seek out assistance from many alternative sources, rather than relying on a classroom teacher to provide all the answers. 20. A more relaxed, less hectic lifestyle is possible when families do not feel the necessity to supplement school during after-school and week-end hours. 21. Busywork can be avoided. 22. Learning can be more efficient since methods can be used that suit a child’s particular learning style. 23. Children will avoid being forced to work in “cooperative learning groups” which include children who have very uncooperative attitudes. 24. Children can learn to work for internal satisfaction rather than for external rewards. 25. Children will not be motivated to “take the easy way out” by doing just enough work to satisfy their teacher. They will learn to be their own judge of the quality of their own work. 26. Children will be more willing to take risks and be creative since they do not have to worry about being embarrassed in front of peers. 27. Children will be more confident since they are not subject to constant fear of criticism from teachers. 28. Peer pressure will be reduced. There will be less pressure to grow up as quickly in terms of clothing styles, music, language, interest in the opposite sex. 29. Social interactions will be by choice and based on common interests. 30. Friends can be more varied, not just with the child’s chronological age peer group who happen to go to the same school. 31. Field trips can be taken on a much more frequent basis. 32. Field trips can be much more enjoyable and more productive when not done with a large school group which usually involves moving too quickly and dealing with too many distractions. 33. Field trips can be directly tied into the child’s own curriculum. 34. Volunteer service activities can be included in the family’s regular schedule. Community service can be of tremendous importance in a child’s development and can be a great learning experience. 35. Scheduling can be flexible, allowing travel during less expensive and less crowded off-peak times. This can allow for more travel than otherwise, which is a wonderful learning experience. 36. Children will be less likely to compare their own knowledge or intelligence with other children and will be less likely to become either conceited or feel inferior. 37. Religious and special family days can be planned and celebrated. 38. More time will be spent with people (friends and family) who really love and care about the children. Children will bond more with siblings and parents since they will spend more time together playing, working, and helping each other. 39. Feedback on children’s work will be immediate and appropriate. They won’t have to wait for a teacher to grade and return their work later to find out if they understood it. 40. Feedback can be much more useful than just marking answers incorrect or giving grades. 41. Testing is optional. Time doesn’t have to be spent on testing or preparing for testing unless the parent and/or child desires it. 42. Observation and discussion are ongoing at home and additional assessment methods are often redundant. Testing, if used, is best used to indicate areas for further work. 43. Grading is usually unnecessary and learning is seen as motivating in and of itself. Understanding and knowledge are the rewards for studying, rather than grades (or stickers, or teacher’s approval, etc.). 44. Children can be consistently guided in a family’s values and can learn them by seeing and participating in parents’ daily lives. 45. Children will learn to devote their energy and time to activities that THEY think are worthwhile. 46. Children will be able to learn about their ethnicities in a manner that will not demean. Children will be able to understand multiculturalism in its true sense and not from the pseudo-multicultural materials presented in schools which tend to depict others from a dominant culture perspective. 47. Children will not learn to “fit into society,” but will, instead, value morality and love more than status and money. 48. Children do not have to wait until they are grown to begin to seriously explore their passions; they can start living now. 49. Children’s education can be more complete than what schools offer. 50. Children who are “different” in any way can avoid being subjected to the constant and merciless teasing, taunting, and bullying which so often occurs in school. 51. Children with special needs will be encouraged to reach their full potential and not be limited by the use of “cookie cutter” educational methods used in schools. 52. Low standards or expectations of school personnel will not influence or limit children’s ability to learn and excel. 53. Children will be safer from gangs, drugs, and guns. 54. Parents will decide what is important for the children to learn, rather than a government bureaucracy. 55. Family will not be forced to work within school’s traditional hours if it does not fit well with their job schedules and sleep needs.

Birth Control/family planning

2009-06-26T14:54:00.000-07:00

Eye, yi, yi. TOUCHY subject. I have an opinion. Don't we all? Here is mine.

Scott and I originally planned on letting God plan our family... completely... with no intervention on our part. With 9 months of being sick (throwing up often until the last day of pregnancy) I have wondered if I am to be pregnant so often and especially with little ones running around. It was easier when I was pregnant the first time and I could lay on the couch all day. As of now, we are letting God plan #3. Before deciding this we had contemplated birth control. I had heard that SOME forms of birth controls acted as the morning after pill aborting fertilized eggs. I knew that I wanted to stay far away from that. So I asked my mid wife which ones did that. She looked at me with confusion as if I had asked a stupid question. "None of them do that" was her reply. I felt better. So I decided to get on what they call the "mini pill" because it doesn't interfere with breast milk supply. When I went to pick up my prescription I read the paper work and it said "prevents pregnancy by inhibiting FERTILIZED EGG's attachment to uterine wall" WHAT? that is exactly what I didn't want. I called my midwife and said, "is there any form of birth control (aside from the obvious like condoms and diaphragms) that I can take that won't do this?" The reply was: "No. All forms of birth control do this. With some it is more likely then others (like the mini pill)." I asked, "what's the difference then between birth control and the morning after pill?" She said- "the only difference is that the morning after pill is a much stronger dose of the same hormones." I was disturbed greatly. wait a minute, do my christian sisters know this? We as Christians believe that life begins at conception, right?

One thing I constantly think of is that if I had used birth control Rhea and Ricky wouldn't be here. Wow. My life without Rhea or Ricky? This picture reminds me of why I choose not to use any sort of planning/birth control.

Wanted to clear something up here. You might hear that birth control prevents ovulation. This is true for about 50% of people. There is no way to know if you are in that 50%. I write this because if I were you I would want to know! No one ever told me this before. I felt I needed to write this to have a clear conscience. Below is an article with much more detail on the subject. I highly recommend you read it. http://www.epm.org/artman2/publish/prolife_birth_control_pill/A_Longer_Condensation_of_Does_The_Birth_Control_Pill_Cause_Abortions.shtml

She does him good

2009-06-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

I love that part in proverbs 31 where it says she does him good ALL the days of his life. What a great thing to be said of a wife! I found this quote and it inspired me to do my wonderful husband only good:

"A true wife makes a man's life nobler, stronger, grander, by the omnipotence of her love 'turning all the forces of manhood upward and heavenward.' While she clings to him in holy confidence and loving dependence she brings out in him whatever is nobles and richest in his being. She inspires him with her courage and earnestness. She beautifies his life. She softens whatever is rude and harsh in his habits or his spirit. She clothes him with the gentler graces of refined and cultured manhood. While she yields to him and never disregards his lightest wish, she is really his queen..." J.R. MIller

Have Not Love...

2009-06-23T19:07:00.000-07:00

If I have not love, I have nothing! Powerful. Nothing. I read the following verses out-loud tonight and tears filled my eyes. We are distracted with so many useless things. If we have not love, the definition given here, we have nothing and ALL our labors are in vain. I put in bold the parts that tug at my heart the most. Why don't you try it? Read it out-loud and let me know what parts tug at you the most!

IF I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

²And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).

³Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God's love in me), I gain nothing.

⁴Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

⁵It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

⁶It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

⁷Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

⁸Love never fails...

my favorite song!

2009-06-22T20:38:00.000-07:00

This song rocks! wow. I listen to it over and over to get me in the right eternal frame of mind. If only I looked to the Lord for my beauty, strength, worth and rest. Help me Father to put my everything in You! Click here to see and hear!

Here are the lyrics:

The Housewive's Song

By Maron

Don't look for your beauty in the eyes of your children
Don't look for your beauty in the eyes of your man
Don't look for your beauty in the eyes of the world
Your beauty, you'll find it in the Lord

Don't look for your worth in your friendships
Don't look for your worth in your pay
Don't look for your worth in the things you do each day
Your worth, you'll find it in the Lord

Chorus
It's like a mirror looking in
When you find the strength to stand
It's not you, it's the Father inside
And when the storm clouds pass on through
And they're only raining on you
Run for cover, in the Father you can hide

Don't look for your strength in your coffee
Don't look for your strength in your routine
Don't look for your strength in your diet and exercise
Your strength, you'll find it in the Lord
Don't look for your rest in the glow of the television
Don't look for your rest on the telephone
Don't look for your rest in the shopping mall sister
Your rest, you'll find it in the Lord

The part that really got me going was: "Don't look for your strength in your coffee, don't look for strength in your routine..." What part "gets you" the most?

p.s. I HIGHLY recommend getting this off of i-tunes. You won't regret it. This girl's voice is awesome!

Homeschooling Advice

2009-06-21T07:41:00.001-07:00

Scott and I desire to homeschool our children. We believe this is just an extension of "training your child in the way they should go." Why would I want to give the gift of teaching my children to someone else? The article posted below gives great advise on the things we need to succeed in homeschooling: vision, guidance, determination, consistency, patience, positive attitude flexibility and support. Read on:

"When a family decides to homeschool, one of the most common questions people will ask them is, "Why?" For some, the motivation may be educational. For others, spiritual. Whatever the reason, most parents are able to give a solid, well-formed answer to anyone who asks. But often, during the darker seasons of homeschooling, the feelings of frustration and hopelessness may drive the parent to turn and ask themself that same question. The enemy knows that if he strikes the shepherd, the sheep will scatter. This truth applies to homeschool families as well. If he can convince the parent that they don't have what it takes, or they aren't smart enough, or they don't do it just right, then the parent may become too overwhelmed and give up. The results can be devastating for both the parent and the student. It should be understood that the success of a homeschooling parent cannot be guaranteed by a college education. It is not established by a teaching certificate. It cannot be created out of intelligence, prosperity or a spotless reputation. No, the foundation of a successful homeschooling parent comes from a servant's heart and a passion to see their child learn and grow. If a homeschooling parent can read, they can teach. If they love and understand their child, they can provide a positive learning environment. If they are willing to keep trying, they have a continual chance at success. Homeschooling is merely the vehicle by which the Christian parent launches their child into a balanced, victorious life. With humility and the right perspective, the various elements can be set in motion. Vision This is the big picture or the mental image of the end result. The parent envisions a confident, educated, spiritually effective graduate that is ready to fulfill the call God has for their life. Guidance: the Map This represents input and advice that parents receive from other successful homeschooling families, and the prayer and encouragement provided from spiritual leaders. Determination: the Fuel This element motivates the parent to persist in the face of opposition, setbacks and disappointments. These will come, but they do not need to be roadblocks. Consistency: the Rear-View Mirror The purpose of this is for the parent to see what they have already accomplished in order to assess the upcoming course. This will help them make any necessary changes without compromising foundational values. Patience: the Cruise Control This helps set the pace. By doing so, the parent won't rush the child ahead prematurely in their studies, nor become anxious if the child needs more time. Positive Attitude: the Steering Wheel The attitude of both the parent and the student can affect the entire homeschooling environment. A positive attitude will help build and maintain a rewarding and successful educational experience. Flexibility: the Turn Signals No homeschool course is designed to be a one-way street. There is freedom to make changes to promote the highest learning potential for the student. Support: the Tires No parent can take on the homeschooling task alone. For a smoother ride, parents will find security and wisdom in a multitude of counselors. There is also comfort and value in a friend to confide in when things become difficult. Nearly every well-seasoned homeschooling parent has encountered uncertainty at some point during their teaching experience, but the comforting thing is that all have survived. The secret to the Christian parent's persistence is really no secret at all. The most successful homeschooling parents are those who understand where they are going, and who they are in Christ. This motivates them to keep charging ahead despite the questions and doubts that may continue to arise."-written by Amy Miller

Discipline part 3-Studying God's Word

2009-06-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

I have pasted below an AWESOME answer to the question: why is it so important for us to read and understand the Bible? When we discipline ourselves to read God's Word we are blessed. Why then do we as Christians have to make it a priority? Why isn't it naturally a priority like sleep, or eating, or hanging out with friends, watching t.v, being on the internet... etc.?! Why don't we crave time in the Word like we crave these things? Because we are worldly. Because we are more in tune with our flesh then our spirit. Because we are not disciplined! If we would be in the Word as much as we are into other non-essential things we would grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. All the things we want in other words. The fruits of the spirit (Gal. 5:22) as opposed to the fruits of our wretched flesh. Enjoy this great answer to the the question: "why should I discipline myself to make reading the Word a priority?"

"Understanding the Bible is important because the Bible is God’s Word. When we open the Bible, we read God’s message to us. What could be more important than understanding what the Creator of the universe has to say? We seek understanding of the Bible for the same reason a man seeks to understand a love letter from his sweetheart. God loves us and desires to restore our relationship with Him (Matthew 23:37). God communicates His love to us in the Bible (John 3:16; 1 John 3:1; 4:10). We seek understanding of the Bible for the same reason a soldier seeks to understand a dispatch from his commander. Obeying God’s commands brings honor to Him and guides us in the way of life (Psalm 119). Those commands are found in the Bible (John 14:15). We seek understanding of the Bible for the same reason a mechanic seeks to understand a repair manual. Things go wrong in this world, and the Bible not only diagnoses the problem (sin) but also points out the solution (faith in Christ). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). We seek understanding of the Bible for the same reason a driver seeks to understand traffic signals. The Bible gives us guidance through life, showing us the road of safety and wisdom (Psalm 119:11, 105). We seek understanding of the Bible for the same reason someone in the path of a storm seeks to understand the weather report. The Bible predicts what the end times will be like, sounding a clear warning of impending judgment (Matthew 24-25) and how to avoid it (Romans 8:1). We seek understanding of the Bible for the same reason an avid reader seeks to understand his favorite author’s books. The Bible reveals to us the person and glory of God, as expressed in His Son, Jesus Christ (John 1:1-18). The more we read and understand the Bible, the more intimately we know the Author. As Philip was traveling to Gaza, the Holy Spirit led him to a man who was reading a portion of Isaiah. Philip approached the man, saw what he was reading, and asked this very important question: “Do you understand what you are reading?” (Acts 8:30). Philip knew that understanding was the starting point for faith. Without understanding the Bible, we cannot apply it, obey it, or believe it."

Good Point Tammy-Victory Indeed

2009-06-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

My sweet friend Tammy pointed out that chapter 8 of Romans is a little more encouraging then Romans 7. I used the majority of chapter 7 to discuss why it is so hard to live a disciplined life. While we are stuck in this fleshly body we do have victory in Christ and we are guided by the Holy Spirit (if we choose to yield and follow Him). It can be depressing to only read about sin and death having it's way in our bodies but there is also life in the Spirit:

Romans 8:4-5 "So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit]. For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit."

I put the last part in bold because that is what I was trying to say at the end of my first posting on discipline. If we seek after the things of God discipline will come more naturally to us because we are setting on our minds on the things of the Spirit, not the flesh. We can live more disciplined lives as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Thanks Tammy!

Discipline part 2-PRAYER

2009-06-16T19:53:00.000-07:00

I was talking to some girlfriends today about the lack of prayer in my life. A great sermon I heard instigated the thinking and goes right along with my discipline series. He says that people start out zealously in things and then peter out. One thing we should never peter out on is prayer. I think if I could just grasp a glimpse of the power of prayer I would be on my knees a lot more. Oh Father, please give me a glimpse...

Listen to this message when you get a chance. It will not be a waste of your time.

http://realitymessages.com/audio/2009-06-14-Prayer_Why_Dont_We-32kbps.mp3

Discipline

2009-06-15T19:56:00.000-07:00

The word itself makes me want to hide in a corner. It's something I hate and yet I crave. I am reading a little pamphlet by Elisabeth Elliot called: "Discovering Joy THROUGH Discipline". It has given me a different perspective on discipline all together! I am going to do a little series on discipline this week sharing with you what I am learning.

There IS great joy in living a life of order and self control, isn't there? When my house is clean, my eating good, my exercise consistent, my time in the Word regular, I am just a happier person. God created us to be this way.

Why is it SO hard to remain consistent in our disciplines? I believe this section of scripture sums it up perfectly!

Romans 7: 8-25 (amplified version, my fave) Read this slowly. It is so meaty and good!

But sin, finding opportunity in the commandment [to express itself], got a hold on me and aroused and stimulated all kinds of forbidden desires (lust, covetousness). For without the Law sin is dead [the sense of it is inactive and a lifeless thing].

⁹Once I was alive, but quite apart from and unconscious of the Law. But when the commandment came, sin lived again and I died (was sentenced by the Law to death).

¹⁰And the very legal ordinance which was designed and intended to bring life actually proved [to mean to me] death.

¹¹For sin, seizing the opportunity and getting a hold on me [by taking its incentive] from the commandment, beguiled and entrapped and cheated me, and using it [as a weapon], killed me.

¹²The Law therefore is holy, and [each] commandment is holy and just and good.

¹³Did that which is good then prove fatal [bringing death] to me? Certainly not! It was sin, working death in me by using this good thing [as a weapon], in order that through the commandment sin might be shown up clearly to be sin, that the extreme malignity and immeasurable sinfulness of sin might plainly appear.

¹⁴We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a creature of the flesh [carnal, unspiritual], having been sold into slavery under [the control of] sin.

¹⁵For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe which my moral instinct condemns].

¹⁶Now if I do [habitually] what is contrary to my desire, [that means that] I acknowledge and agree that the Law is good (morally excellent) and that I take sides with it.

¹⁷However, it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin [principle] which is at home in me and has possession of me.

¹⁸For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]

¹⁹For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing.

²⁰Now if I do what I do not desire to do, it is no longer I doing it [it is not myself that acts], but the sin [principle] which dwells within me [fixed and operating in my soul].

²¹So I find it to be a law (rule of action of my being) that when I want to do what is right and good, evil is ever present with me and I am subject to its insistent demands.

²²For I endorse and delight in the Law of God in my inmost self [with my new nature].

²³But I discern in my bodily members [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh].

²⁴O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death?

²⁵O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

God's word always has a way of expressing everything we can't. I love the end, He alone is the One who will deliver us from this wretched body! Until then we must discipline our flesh and seek the Lord in prayer constantly. We are in a battle folks. It's as if there is two of us. Which ever we feed more becomes stronger. Feed on the Word and prayer. Feed on things of the Lord. Purge yourself of worldly, fleshly things and discipline will come more naturally! ( I preach to myself of course!)