I am a wife and mother...now what?

I am blessed to have discovered God's plan for my life early on. Since I was a child I have always desired to be a wife and a mother. These descriptions don't fully characterize all of who I am but they can give you a general idea of what I was predestined to do in life.

What does it mean to be wife and mother based upon the Bible?

We are called to help our husbands (Gen 2:18) and our children (Titus 2:3-5; Deuteronomy 11:18-21; Proverbs 22:6 ) to fulfill the vision that God has for them and our family.

As a wife we are called by God to love, respect, and be faithful to our husbands (Ephesians 5:22,23; Titus 2:4,5).

As a wife and mother we are to model of godliness and do our best to meet the family’s needs (Titus 2:4,5; 1 Timothy 5:14; Proverbs 31:10-31).

We are to model purity in our dress, speech and behavior. We are to strive to possess a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:1-7).

We are commanded to manage her homes (Proverbs 31:27; Titus 2:5). We should also strive to cultivate a joy of doing so, by visiting websites of other homemakers and growing from the experiences that they share.

We should do our best to speak with wisdom, and demonstrate prudence (Proverbs 12:4; 31:26,27).

This is not an all encompassing list of what it means to be a wife and mother. There are many more biblical commandments and principles available throughout scripture to help us to familiarize ourselves with God's idea of a wife and mother.

All of the answers can be obtained through communication with your own husband, prayer and reading of the Bible.

My Mission Field

The Old School Room 1895 

Courtesy of Photoanswers.co.uk

People often suggest that I become a teacher as a result of either watching me educate my children or hearing me talk of our experiences.

I am flattered by their vote of confidence since teaching would have been my first career choice, had I not subscribed to spending my life as a wife and mother.

When people suggest that I become a teacher, I reply "I am a teacher".

I understand what they are implying when they use the word "teacher". They are suggesting that I obtain a degree from an accrediated college or university that would allow me to teach in a state run educational facility.

The thought has crossed my mind on several occasions, that maybe my talents would be better utilized teaching more than just my own children.

That would be true if my sole mission were to educate their minds. The intellectual educating of my children is secondary to teaching them the wisdom of God.

By starting our days with Bible reading and prayer, I am teaching them our relationship with Christ is not only a priority, but our most important relationship.

I could never teach that in a state run school.

If any of the members of our family have an internal disagreement or a family crisis within or outside of our family unit, we first encourage one another using scripture. Secondly, we endeavor to help each other get through personal struggles by listening, guiding and steering each other back to God's word. We are teach our children how to cultivate peace, patience and dependency upon God. (Proverbs 6:20-23)

I could never teach that in a state run school.

My daughters and sons are learning the importance of modesty in their speech, dress and actions. They are learning the importance of  being humble rather than ostentatious. (Luke 14:7-11)

My daughters are learning to be women, wives and mothers. (Titus 2:3-5 & Proverbs 31:10-31) My sons are learning to be men, husbands and fathers. (Titus 1:6-8 & Proverbs 31:1-9) They are learning that differences between the responsibilities of a man and a women. They are accepting the responsibilities of their roles and learning to refine their skills as they mature.

This is my mission field. These are my students. I am their teacher. (Deuteronomy 11:18-20) I love what I do and I would not have it any other way. Teaching my children how to live lives that mirror the word of God, is my career. It is what I was made to do.

Teacher's deask in an old school room on the grounds of Henderson Hall just south of Williamstown, WV

Do I love other children? Yes. I love children, which is why my volunteer to work is with children. However, for this season of my life, I am called to the mission field of motherhood.

She Rises While it is Yet Night...

1. Time to Pursue God: I get to spend quiet quality time alone with the Lord. I use this time to pray, read my bible, talk to the Lord and receive instruction and encouragement. After taking this time alone I feel calm and ready for the day.

2. Begin Dinner Prep: Getting a jump start on preparing for dinner makes dinner time so much more manageable when 5'oclock rolls around. I choose at least one thing that can be done from my dinner to-do's. If dry beans are on the menu, I let them soak overnight. This way all I do is drain off the water and pop them in the crock pot in the morning. I also defrost meat in the freezer overnight and season it in the morning. Making a habit of doing at least one thing in advance makes life easier at dinnertime.

3. Quiet Time to Plan your Day: Planning my day give me direction and a measurable set of goals. Having a plan allows me to manage my home and care for it effectively. I use this time to schedule not only my responsibilities, but to also organize skill building chores for my children.

4. Get Started on Home Keeping Tasks: I like to begin homemaking tasks early in the day, rather than cleaning in the evening when I could be resting and relaxing with my family. My husband once told me that as a stay at home wife, I was my own boss. He also said that if I am still working in the evening when the rest of the family is relaxing then I need to fire myself. Planning my day, getting started early and setting a quitting time helps me to keep a cheerful disposition.

5. Make Breakfast for my Family: When my children were younger I made their entire breakfast for them daily. Now that they are getting older, they each take part in preparing our breakfast meals. I am training them to manage the kitchen by guiding them and and instructing them on how to work together. Our children will remember the things that we do for them and with them. Meal preparation is a very important bonding time for our family.

6. Personal Grooming Time for Myself: This is one of the tasks that is beneficial to myself and my husband. Taking the time to get dressed, style my hair and put on makeup really makes my husband feel special. When I initially made a commitment to get dressed each day-- as if I were going to be leaving the house, my family would look at me strangely. They'd ask "Mommy are you going somewhere?".

They had gotten so accustomed to me wearing PJ's or sweatpants and uncombed hair that they were puzzled by the change. After some time, not only did they respond well to this change in my morning routine, but I began to feel better about myself. I would smile throughout the day when I would catch glimpses of myself in the mirror throughout the house.

These are just a few beneficial reasons for getting up a little earlier than the rest of the family.

Do you have a morning routine and what time does your day start? I'd love to hear what works at your house.

Pre-Thanksgiving Cooking

Sweet Potatoes were .25¢ a pound are Walmart and Aldi, which is a fabulous price. It's the lowest price you'll find all year in my area. I bought about 30 or so pounds which will be cooked up and frozen to use throughout 2010.

In an effort to prevent feeling overwhelmed on Thanksgiving I pre-prep  some of my dishes in advance. I know from experience that their is no obvious difference in taste if the sweet potato pie filling is made on Thanksgiving or a few days before. I did not have to cook dinner yesterday since we had leftover lasagna in the fridge, so I used this time to work on sweet potato's.

 

This is the filling for the pies.

 

All bagged up to bake on Wednesday night.

 

This is my candied yam casserole. It's smothered in butter, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, sweet milk, vanilla and concentrated orange juice. This will marinate and be baked on Thursday morning.

 

I hope that your holiday plans are coming along well.

Modestly Fashionable Clothing

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Talbots. All opinions are 100% mine.

I was offered the opportunity to write about Talbots clothing line and I must say that I have been exposed to a line that I had not been familiar with. Talbots challenged me to share with my readers what I would buy with a $500 Talbots gift card.

The thing I enjoy most about reviewing companies is that I get to learn about product I would not have most likely found on my own. I had heard of Talbot before, but never considered it as a store that would suit my needs. I do not know where I acquired this notion, but when I visited the site I knew immediately that Talbot's was the store for me.

If you are looking to dress modestly and have been having a hard time locating fashionable skirts and dresses that would sit below the knee or longer Talbots may be the place to look.

I will be the first to say that Talbots is not inexpensive, by any stretch of the imagination. Their skirts range $34.99 - $189 each, however I am a firm believer in the saying " you get what you pay for". I don't shop often, but when I do I like to invest in quality pieces that will last a long time when properly cared for.

If I had a $500 Talbots gift card I would buy several foundation pieces upon which to build a stylish, classic, modest wardrobe.

$159

 

$69

 

$51.99

  

$61.99

$34.99

$159

I went a little bit over $500 by $36, but as you can see Talbots has some really fashionable long skirts. I spent about three hours just last week searching the web for knee length or longer skirts only to log off frustrated. Most of the sites were families, mostly Amish, who were selling hand made dresses with styles more closely related to the styles found on the show Little House on the Prairie. I want to dress modestly, but I don't want to sacrifice fashion. Talbots is just the resource to meet my needs.

To stay up to date with Talbots you can subscribe to their blog RedChairConfessions.com.

Mary or Martha?

With the holiday season fast approaching some of you may be beginning to feel the pressure to make everything perfect before Thursday arrives. Let us bring to remembrance the lesson of Mary and Martha.

You know the story right? Mary and Martha have Jesus into their home. Martha fusses around making food and cleaning while Mary sits with the guests. Pretty soon Martha is upset with Mary and tells Jesus to tell Mary she had better get up and help.

How surprised was Martha when Jesus told her that Mary had chosen what was right.

In an effort to plan and host the perfect gathering this year, keep in mind what's improtant this holiday season. I will be sharing my home and food with my guests this season, but more importnatly I will remember to share my time.

Unwanted Holiday Guest

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Victor® Rodent Control. All opinions are 100% mine.

As we prepare their homes for the holidays, we want to be sure to make presentable the things that our guest sees and perhaps the things they do not see. Some of us may have family coming in town to stay between now and Christmas, and if you have a bug or rodent problem, there is no better time than now to address the issue.

I do not have a rodent problem, but I can remember growing up in NYC and rodents being a part of everyday life. The purchase of snap traps, glue traps, mouse bait and pellets were a regular part of my family’s household maintenance expenses.

Just a week ago, I advised a friend on how to get rid of an annoying rodent he had at his place. I gave him some De-con which he place inside of a piece of bread rolled into a ball. He set the ball out before bed, hoping to rid himself of the problem. He awoke only to find the bread gone and the pellets sitting on the counter top.

After calling me back to say that the plan did not work, I advised him to crush the pellets into a fine powder and to mix them into to bread. He set the bait out again and headed off to bed. He awoke to find a dead rat a few feet from where he had set the bait.

Whether you have a bug or rodent problem this is the time to get a handle on it. The bad part about using a poisonous product like De-con is that it is not safe around pets and children. The other drawback is that you will need to dispose of the rodent carcass if it dies before making it out of your house.

I had never heard of ultrasonic rodent repellents before and came across a demo that explained how ultrasonic repellents work. The makers of Victor Pest products claim that the repellents emit high frequency sound waves designed to repel rodents from entering your home. The website a variety of repellent coverage ranges based upon the size of your home.

The main reason for rodent problems is due to homes that offer them food and shelter. Some tips on how to rodent proof your home found at Victorpest.com are…

• Keep your house clean. This especially includes the areas that you cannot see such as under the stove, refrigerator and dishwasher.

• Put away food. Do not leave any food or water out over night. If you have, pets be sure to clean out their dishes each night before bed. If you have a pantry, consider repackage certain items in plastic or metal containers.

A Good Thing

"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favour of the Lord. "

Proverbs 18:22

We, at times forget how much our husbands need us. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in our children, our home, our blogs and life in general that we forget to get around to being his "help meet".

We often have good intentions when we fill our days with this and that. We may even believe that if our calendars are filled with activities and our to-do lists are a mile long that we are being good wives.

However, it is just the opposite. A good wife is sensitive to her husbands needs above everyone else's. She is concerned even to the point of clearing her schedule when he needs her, if possible. She purposely schedules time in her day for her husband.

She does not put her children’s desires, requests or agenda before her husbands. Fear not ladies, your children will no that they are loved and cared for even if they don’t receive 100% of your energy and attention. A godly husband will never put himself before his children.

When we place our husbands as a major priority in our lives we are teaching our children biblical family order. A good wife seeks to please her husband and adhere to her husbands wishes above all other earthly beings.(Ephesians 5:22-24)

One of the major drawbacks of neglecting to make our husbands a priority, is withdrawal. How many times have we all mis-prioritized and found that our husbands had withdrawn from us? They sought us but we were too busy. (Song of Solomon 5:2-6) They needed us, yet we were not there.

Because they are so strong, we forget how much my husbands need us. Because they rarely, if ever cry, we forget that they are vulnerable.

In an effort to be that “good thing’’ referred to in Proverbs 18:22; let us make a conscience effort to make our spouses a priority this week.

My Marriage, My Idol

To my dearly beloved fellow sisters in Christ,

One of the biggest strains that I have ever placed on my marriage was the unspoken demand for my husband to be my Lord and savior. It wasn't something that I verbalized, but it was an unattainable, internal standard that I had set for him.

I expected my husband to be perfect and without fault. With this expectation came disappointment and bitterness. When the Bible alluded to the husband being "like Christ" in regards to his relationship to his wife, I took this to mean perfect.

I expected the PERFECT CHRISTIAN HUSBAND.

I charged him with filling the needs and completing tasks that only the Lord could. I expected my husband to know how I was feeling even when I was to hurt and stubborn to verbalize.

I expected him to know what to do to make me happy. I wanted him to meet all of my needs. I demanded that he figure out what it required to make me feel secure.

This kind of thinking began to take a severe toll on the strength of my marriage. It was not until I realized that I had set up an idol. This idol was a detailed mental list of the type of husband God wanted for me. This list transformed from the type of husband God wanted for me into the type of husband I demanded that I have.

I had built an image of my husband, based upon every righteous aspect of the scripture, and then turned it into an idol of worship. If ever my husband did not meet the standards I had formulated, I would become frustrated, resentful and bitter. This showed up in my speech, behavior and attitude.

It wasn't until God began to show me how far away I was from being a Proverbs 31 or Titus 2 mentor that I finally humbled myself.

It amazes me how easily something good can turn bad when we get our hands on it. Needless to say, that I stopped demanding that my husband be perfect and begun the work of allowing God to perfect me. Not only have I grown in the process, but God has molded my husband into the perfect man for me.

I no longer worship who he could be, but I accept and encourage my husband for who he his and where he is. I let God's grace handle the rest.

If you have a husband that you believe is coming up short, be prayerful, focus on the Lord and encourage your husband often. Ask God to help you focus on your husbands goodness. Allow God to use you to be the helpmeet he needs to become the man God predestined him to be.

May the Lord greatly bless you with the reading of these words.

FOCUS ON THE CROSS

Everything that you are going through right now is bringing you closer to the foot of the cross.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: I Peter 4:12

Christ is not dead!

He hears your prayers...

He sees your tears...

He knows your pain...

He understands your struggle...

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10

HE IS YOUR ANSWER!

Take your eyes off of your problems and Focus On The Cross. Be encouraged as you go about your week. God cares for the things that concern you. Psalm 138:8

A Time to Pray

Luke 18:1 "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;"

Luke 21:36 "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

I have found that key to dealing with difficulties within the home is through continual prayer. Whether it be the immaturity of our children that can sometimes frustrate us or the challenges of marriage, we should always utilize the gift of prayer in order to see the situation from the correct perspective.



Romans 1:9 "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers"

Ephesians 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints..."

Praying is something that can and should be practiced at all times. It may seem a daunting task but, contrary to popular belief, is very easy to accomplish.



Philippians 1:4 "Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy..."

Colossians 1:3 "We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you..."

I learned a little trick that helps me to pray at all times. While folding my families clothes, I will pray for each family member as I come to their article of clothing. I say just a short sentence or two regarding their needs, struggles or anything the Holy Spirit leads me to pray.



Colossians 4:12 "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."

1 Thessalonians 1:2 "We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers..."

I do the same thing while reviewing my daily to do list. As I assign and review each of their daily tasks I say a quick pray concerning each family member.



2 Thessalonians 1:11 "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power..."

Philemon 1:4 "I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers..."

This can also be carried out while making plates for meals or while dressing a child or fixing their hair. You can pray for them while you are tidying their room or returning one of their books or toys to it's proper place.

If you are seeking more time to pray for your family begin to look for all of the opportunities that are available and take advantage of them.

With Your Whole Heart

I am often amazed and yet saddened by some of the comments I hear so called believers make. I do not intend to stand in judgment of any ones walk of faith. We all must "work out our on salvation with fear and trembling". Each of us must determine what we will believe and in who we will place our trust.

The question of whether or not we believed that we trusted God with our whole heart was presented myself and a group of believers. Out of the group of 20 or so I was the only one to eagerly answer "I do!"

It felt awkward to look around and see my classmates ponder the question as if they had only considered the question for the first time at that very moment.

It had seemed all to obvious an answer to me...but what if it weren't obvious?

How do you know if you trust God with your whole heart?

Trusting God means relying on His integrity, strength, ability, commandments and promises.

When things go right in your life do you give God the praise?

When things go wrong in your life do you seek Gods direction?

Before you make decisions do you commune with the Lord?

Are you focused on pleasing God above all else?

All of these and many more are indications of a person who trusts God with their whole heart. Trusting the Lord with your whole heart is not determined by finding the difference between the number of times that you have listened to the Lord and the number of times that you didn't.

Trusting the Lord with your whole heart is making a decision to follow the Lord no matter what.

While you are trusting the Lord you will still mess up and make wrong decisions. You will think you heard God say do this and you did that. Nevertheless, continue to trust Him. Be strong and courageous and TRUST HIM. Be bold in your faith. Stand fast upon his word and TRUST HIM.

Be encouraged!

Taking the Leap

I am a huge fan of Blogger.com and many of the other free sites available. I have been using blogger for over two years now. However, I realize that in order for my two blogs to have the capability to offer my readers the functionality that I am looking for, I will need to switch to a website hosting company.

Some hosting companies offer very basic services such as standard web hosting where you don't get any technical help, and others offer everything from web design to dedicated server hosting.

I really do not know much about the html. and template codes so I will need a reliable host to be able to offer easy to use templates at a reasonable price. There are many site who offer referrals to some of the best web hosting services but I really like the functionality of WebHostingGeeks.com

The list that the site provides is very informative. Each of the listings include information such as the name of the host company, their ranking and pricing. I never expected for my blog to become a resource for information but now that it is I'd like to make sure that the information is stored somewhere other than blogger and my hard drive.

Many of the pricing plans are very reasonable. Prices range from $1.99 up to $12.95 for web hosting. These are price ranges for hosts who were ranked in the top ten. I would like to merge this blog with A Proverbs Wife sometime down the line, but in order to do so I will need much more functionality that what is offered for FREE through blogger.

I am prayerfully considering the direction that God wants to take both of my blogs and patiently waiting to see how it all come together in a final package.

The Christian Wife

She has a responsibility...

To Submit to Her Husbands Authority

• Ephesians 5:22
  
• Colossians 3:18

**This includes unsaved or unbelieving husbands

• I Peter 3:1

To love her husband

• Titus 2:4

Submission is not...

...obedience like a child obeys a parent.

I Peter 3:7~ Dwell with your wife with understanding, grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of Jesus Christ.

The way that the husband treats the wife is how he treats himself, because they are one in the eyes of God through marriage.
Gen 2:23-24

...is not something to be feared.

A man of God has a responsibility to love his wife the way that he loves himself which includes his actions toward her.
Ephesians 5:28-29

...is not her losing her personality or uniqueness in place of her husbands.

Submission is...

...supporting your husband by accepting his leadership.

...seeking to listen to his direction concerning the family and direction for the family.
I Peter 3:6

...assisting him in carrying out the vision for the family.

...becoming his "helpmeet". Genesis 2:18

Condiment Coupon

The next time I go shopping I am going to look for NAKANO Seasoned Rice Vinegar on the condiment isle.

My family has recently become non-meat eaters and are slowly transitioning to removing animal based dairy products from our diets as well. As we do so, I found that we are eating more salads, grains and pastas. With the lack of meat I have had to become more creative in my seasoning techniques.

I've recently purchased Terryaki and Tamari sauce to use in Asian recipes and was very pleased with the flavor. I am excited about trying NAKANO Seasoned Rice Vinegar on some salad recipes I have planned for the future.

To learn more about the NAKANO brand of products visit their site. While you are there you can also sign up for the Splash Recipe Club after which you will receive a FREE recipe booklet, coupons and more. While you are waiting to receive your coupons in the mail, print a coupon to save $1 off Nakano Rice Wine Vinegar.

This is a great coupon especially for those of us who are trying to eat healthy. Many companies are now recognizing that and are offering discount coupons as an incentive to buy their products. The coupon is good until 12/2009.

Return Unto the Lord

In a misguided quest to be the perfect wife and mother, we have become blindsided to the true purpose of our calling. We are called to demonstrate a Christ-likeness in our behavior and speech.

Our ability to be perfect is unrealistic and unobtainable.

We cannot be perfect but we can be loving, kind, patient, faithful and obedient to God. What do people see in you?

Do they see you as loving, honest, patient and forgiving person? Do they see fairness in your stern judgment?

Perhaps they see hypocrisy and bitterness.

Are we demostrating a true image of who Christ is? In order to be a true example of Christ we must have a true relationship with God. Our end goal cannot be worldly ideals of perfection.

A true relationship begins with time spent daily in the presence of the Lord. Our relationship with God is unlike any other we will ever experience. We need to spend time with God to become better people. There is no other relationship that is able to refresh, strengthen, direct and encourage us like our relationship with God.

We can seek these benefits in our relationships with our spouses, or in the hours on the phone with our friends. We can imagine that we have grasped those benefits of time spent with God, in the time we spend staring into the eyes of our infant children. However, what we get from these experiences can never replace what we gain from time spent with God.

What are we seeking when we spend time with HIM?

1~Knowledge of who He is
2~Knowledge of who we are
3~Understanding of the purpose and plan for our life
4~A mirror in which to view our actions and thoughts
5~Direction for discipling our children

I remember when I used to nag my husband about not reading any books other than the Bible. I would read Christian self help books, devotionals, study guides and commentaries. I would read novels, literature, historical fiction and non-fiction alike. I thought that due to his lack of literary knowledge that my husband would grow old and not know a thing about the world.

But oh..that God was so mindful of me to bless me with such a wonderful and wise husband. I have come full circle only to learn that if there were only one book that I could have in the world, it would be my bible.

The holy text holds the answers to everything that we need. Therefore we must spend daily quiet time in Gods word. We must carry on a continual conversation with God.

It’s o.k. to talk to God while you do your homekeeping or while you are at work. We must store His word in our hearts by meditating on scripture. Finally, we must put away they busyness that keeps us from pursuing a relationship with God.

If you were to ask my children what is the most important relationship in my life they will tell you that “nobody comes before God”. There should be nothing more important than your time with God. It has to be a priority. I could never be an example of Christ without spending time with God.

No amount of time spent with God will make me a perfect Christian. What the time does do, is grants me to humbleness of mind to admit when I have sinned and fallen short of Gods glory. It reminds me that I am not my children’s Lord and savior. It reminds me that I am a joint heir to the throne of Christ with my children. It reminds me of my desperate need for a relationship with the Lord.

Make a commitment today to renew your relationship with Christ. Take the steps needed to clear your plate and re-prioritize your focus. Desire not be perfect but to be HIS.

HOPE is in the LORD

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Psalm 42:5

Do you know that the joy of the Lord can be your strength? Do you not recognize the power that comes from unfettered obedience to God?

He desires that we flourish, yet we sit trapped in the bondage of despair and depression. We fail to see the hope in dire situations because we have taken our eyes off of Him.

What is it that sets us apart from the unbelievers, but our hope that the fact that God's words are true. Why do we give up when the storms of life come, Knowing that "If God be for me, who an be against me?"

The storms are for your good. Do you not know that we ought to glory in our tribulations, knowing that tribulations bring about patience?

So how then should we react during the storms?

1~Stand firm on the word of the Lord knowing that everything that He has promised you shall come to pass. (Hebrews 10:23)

2~Continue to surround ourselves with other strong believers that will encourage us to think and to do good during this time.
(Hebrews 10:24-25)

3~Continue in prayer for strength and obedience during this storm.

4~Maintain a joyful countenance and mind frame. (James 1:2)


Do not despair when troubles come. Don't believe that you are the only one going through what you're going through. Trust God and know that he has already worked the situation out for your good. Take your eyes off the circumstance and place it on the only true solution which is God.

Children...A Gift from the Lord

As a mother I have a responsibility to teach my children to love the Lord with all of their heart, mind, body and soul. This love cannot be forced, but must be allowed be accepted willingly.

God does not force himself upon us and has given us the free will to decide whom we will serve.

In order for me to help my children choose wisely, I have to show them a true representation of who God is. There are a few things that we must remember when leading our children to the Lord.

We cannot make them follow God with their hearts. Just because our children follow our family rules whether they be our preferred way of doing things or our Biblical rules, we must endeavor that they learn to be obedient out of love.

They must see that our relationship with God is a priority.
They must see that spending time with God is of the utmost importance to us. Our children should know that we pray for them and their father. They must know where mother gets her strength, hope, peace and joy. Teach them that your relationship with God comes first, then husband, children, home and then the church (friends). Teach them that when the relationship with God is balanced all the rest will balance out as well.

Teach them to overcome the sin in their lives. Are we holy on Sunday and hellish Monday-Saturday? I am not referring to striving daily to grasp the patience to mother calmly and lovingly. What I am referring to is the evil that can fester in our hearts and minds. The thoughts of bitterness and anger towards our children can be seen in the way that we speak to them and interact with them.

In order to overcome the challenges of parenting we must be an open book. This takes humility, prayer and repentance. Do not be afraid to share with your children how much you need their help. Tell them how much it helps you when they, for example...do their chores the first time they are asked.

Let them know that you are working on the Fruit of the Spirit "patience". Tell them how they can help you. Ask them to pray that anger be taken far from you each morning. To hear a child pray for the salvation of mother is such a humbling sound. I have overheard my own children pray for me many times. I have been brought to tears over the sincerity of their desire that I be holy and acceptable in the sight of God.

We cannot be hypocrites. We cannot fool our children no matter how we try. They know who we are when we take off our public face. We cannot be a hypocrites, for if we do we will run the risk of misrepresenting God to our children. We must be the light of the world for our children. We must strive not to put on a show for friends, but should endeavor to be our best for our children. Let us restructure our loyalties. Let us concern ourselves more with the face that we put on for our children first and our face for other believers will follow suit. Let our behavior at home be that of which we profess to believe.

No one of us will ever be perfect, but we can seek the will of God in our daily lives that He may perfect those things in us which are imperfect.

She Does Him Good...

I have found that society has done no justice in teaching women how to properly care for her husband. Some of our mothers, grandmothers and aunts may have not done a superb job of it either. However, I'd like to try and shed a little light on the subject of caring for the delicate needs of our men.

If your husband is anything like mine, he is a provider and protector. He the strong. He is courageous and he is always willing to shield his family from the storms of life.

He is everything we want in a husband, but do you know what his vulnerability is?...

YOU!

Our husbands are quite vulnerable to us as wives. We have the POWER to keep him or push him away. We have the POWER to build him up or tear him down.We can use that ability to make him better or to make him worse.

The POWER of our words can cause our husbands to want to cleave or to leave. If we are the argumentative type that always has to have our way, then you will surely drive him away. He may not be gone today but with each argument, you will slowly wear away at the bond that holds you together.

Foolish Wife~ Proverbs 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

Wise Wife~ Proverbs 31: 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

The POWER of our behavior can cause our husbands to trust or distrust us. Are we honest and upfront about what we spend out if the family budget? Are we honest about what we do with our time? Do we hide things from our husbands or lie to them? This includes what some call little lies like sneaking an ingredient into a meal that he said he does not like?

Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

It does not matter if he knows or not. When our children watch us do things that go against our husbands wishes we are teaching them that it's o.k. to disregard authority as long as you don't get caught. Dishonesty destroys bonds. How can you be made ruler over the greater tasks when you cannot be faithful with the little tasks?

Proverbs 31:10-12 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

The Power of our appearance can influence or husbands to be better men of God. Our husbands are very much influenced by our carnal; appearance but I want to bring to light a more eternal appearance. Let us put on the apparel of obedience to our husbands.

We must choose to put this on each day. It is not a once and for all choice for most of us, but it is none the less...a choice. It is one that is made out of love and a willingness to yield to the will of God.

A husband can be encouraged in his personal walk with Christ to see his wife put on the characteristics of holiness, mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience and forgiveness in our interactions with him and your children.

We all have areas where we are still learning and growing in Christ. Let us encourage one another towards excellence through the word of God.

Proverbs 24:3-4 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

What Do I Do Before the Storm?

Facing the storms of life can be one of the hard, yet they have the potential to empower us. In order for us to become successful at exiting the storms with our faith still intact, we must train during the times when we are experiencing peace in our lives.

Make it a habit to read the Bible daily. Find a time during the day or night that you can devote to reading a minimum of one chapter of the Bible each day. The word of God is a weapon and not reading the Bible leaves you defenseless.

Meditate on Gods word daily through memorization of scripture. Choose verses of the Bible that encourage you and think on them daily. If you are bold enough write them on your bathroom mirror and windows throughout your home. Use a dry erase marker which can easily be wiped clean. Imagine being able to meditate on His word while you wash your face and brush your teeth. How much more peace would you have reading his word on the window above the kitchen sink? If you store His word in your heart during times of peace, they will be easier to recall during life's trials.

Learn how to pray with power and faith. To obtain prayer that brings about resolution you must have faith in God. Your faith must lie in the belief that God is able to do what He promises in His holy scripture. You must also pray the will of God and not your own expectation. God will not operate outside of His will. In order to pray the will of God, you must have a relationship with God. This relationship is developed by reading the Bible, meditating on scripture, being obedient to the word and praying for an outcome that glorifies God. You must pray for Gods will even when the outcome is one that you do not desire.

Pray constantly and consistently. Prayer is not just for bedtime. Satan is banking on you not praying. He is hoping that you look at prayer as a redundant chore rather than an ongoing conversation with God. Please do not be fooled. It is Gods desire that we communicate with Him all of the time.

If you have been struggling in any of these areas pray and ask the Lord to remove those things that are drawing your attention away from Him. Make your desire to rekindle the relationship known to Him. God loves you and is waiting for you to come back to Him.

Your Labor is not in Vain

I sometimes find myself cringing at that messages that I believe God sometimes asks me to convey. For one I, like most people, on some level fear rejection and persecution. However, the fear does not run deep enough for me to refuse to be God's messenger.

Not only does the thought of rejection and persecution make me apprehensive but, so does the feeling of not being worthy. Nobody knows more clearly than oneself all of the sinful and reproachable things that they've done yet to still have God look at you and say "You are the one that I have chosen" is beyond comprehension.

Paul says it like this "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and HIS grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain...I Corinthians 15:9-10"

My spirit was burdened this evening with the thought of how passive we have become as believers. We have become passive in regards to Gods standards. We have brushed aside many fundamental Biblical principles by labeling them "Old Testament Legalism". We have strayed so far from the will of God that we have the audacity to scowl at God's word whenever it infringes on our acceptable status quo.

For instance, why do some "Christian" women become defensive when the word submission is spoken aloud? Is this not a biblical principle found all throughout scripture?

And why do some "Christians" give you the death stare at the mention of Halloween being a holiday that does not glorify God. I've had some "Christians" try to convince me of how they are not celebrating Halloween but, that they are celebrating "All Hallows Day" or "All Holy Day". Nothing I've seen in the way that "Christians" celebrate Halloween differs from the way in which unbelievers celebrate Halloween.

What if an angel of the Lord came down from Heaven and told you that the reverencing of the "day of the dead" is repulsive to God, would your family fore go Halloween this October?

We, as believers, have formed some habits over the years which I will refer to as "worldly customs". These habits have become so normal for us that we are not even disturbed by there existence.

I flipped through the channels this evening and landed on the J.K. Rowling's special. The reporter stated that the first three Harry Potter movies grossed somewhere around 4 billion dollars. I silently wondered how many "Christian" dollars were included in that number.

The reporter then went on talk about the hours of research that went into choosing the spells, sorcery and witchcraft material included in the books and movies. I hear some "Christians" talk of how they must get the latest book for their children and I wonder if they've overlooked the fundamental biblical principle that says:

"When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.There shall not be found am long you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer". Deuteronomy 18:9-11 (KJV)

"When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in a fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead". Deuteronomy 18:9-11 (NIV)

We must get past the lure of worldly pleasures and get back to the "Good Works" of God. "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies...of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-20(KJV)

We are in a dangerous place as believers when we read the word of God and not be compelled to conform to it. This is an indication that we have accepted the ways of the world as normal. Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

That good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God is what I desire, so much so that I am willing to die for it I Cor 15:31. I mean that both physically and spiritually. I pray that I don't have to experience a physical death for my faith however, I do understand that in order for me to grow and change into the image of Christ that I must die spiritually.

If you are upset by what I have written and refuse to change, don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger. The word of God is what it is. I will tell you that, I am not concerned with your hurt feelings. I am more concerned with your salvation.

God has given us the power to be victorious over the sin in our lives. If you realize that there are some habits that you have picked up that do not glorify God, begin by telling HIM that you have messed up. Next, tell him that you want to do better and that you need HIS help. Finally, implement and accountability partner. It could be your spouse, a friend or family member. You will need to surround yourself with support and encouragement.

This subject matter may be a touchy one for many believers and unbelievers alike. You may not all agree with what I have written however, this is my blog and if what I write is offensive to you in anyway feel free to disagree in the privacy of your own home.

I am not open to any confrontational comments or debates. I will not participate in vain disputes over faith. Either you agree or you don't. I will on the contrary, address civilized questions and or comments.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Children...Mama's Helper's

When our children were younger I devoted countless hours to their care and comfort. I attended to their cries and was readily available to shower them with attention.

As they grow older they learn to care for themselves more and more. My children range in age from 5-15 are able to operate the mechanics of our home short of the financial aspects.

From the first time that I see my children demonstrate a desire to take responsibility for themselves and their surroundings, I've taken advantage of that desire.

I have always raised my children as though I may not be around tomorrow.

I cultivate a desire in my children to be responsible for their property and areas.

I teach them how to make basic meals for them selves. The (2) younger children should know how to pour drinks, set a table setting and prepare a simple snack like crackers and peanut butter. They are taught to clean up after eating. The older children learn to prepare side items for meals and then the main courses.

The benefit of allowing children to take responsibility for the day to day operation of their home life gives them a sense of responsibility. The best part is that it gives mom a reprieve from caring for the basic needs of the entire family.

Spiritual Warfare

1 Corinthians 9:26-27

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

This is a passage of scripture intended to encourage warriors. Oh...did you not know that a warrior is one of your duties as a woman of God?

Yes, you are a warrior...one who is willing and able to do battle. However "we fight not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places".-Ephesians 6:11-12

In other words our battle is against satan. Satan wants to steal your hope, your joy, your peace and your salvation amongst many other blessings given to you of God.

Not only does satan desire to take from you, he also wants to destroy you, but God in His infinite wisdom has already made a way of escape. -Luke 22:31-32, I Corinthians 10:13

Paul uses the phrase "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection" as a way of describing rigorous training and discipling of the flesh. The spirit can be willing yet the body weak which is why we must study the word of God daily. In order for us to win any battle in our lives we must be prepared for spiritual warfare. The only way to be prepared is to be equipped with the word of God.

One of the most powerful weapons a women of God can posses is faith in HIS word. When satan tries to burden you down with financial woes, speak the word of God. As a result your outlook on the situation should improve. If it does not than you must consider whether or not you believe that God is able to perfrom. When we speak God's word in our circumstances we allow God to fight our battles.

That is the result of faith in God's word. Arguing with your spouse over troubles is not going to defeat satan. Choosing discord as a response to trouble gives satan the victory over your life. You must learn to speak the word of God into your life until it becomes alive.

God's word is a living word and it has the power to overcome any trial.

Ornaments of Meekness and Quietness

I Corinthians 6:11

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Have you ever found yourself doing the very thing you vowed you didn't want to do anymore?

You said you wouldn't fuss at your children any more. You said that you'd be more submissive and less argumentative towards your husband from now on.

All would go well...for a while and before you knew it you were back to yelling and rebelling.

You desire to have a meek and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4) yet somehow the ability to perform it eludes you.

Why is it that no matter how many times we vow that these are the characteristics we desire do they still evade us?

When we yell at at our children and argue with our husbands it is not good for us or for our families. It causes everyone physical, mental and emotional damage.

It is not so much the raised voice when speaking to our children, or the fact that we may disagree with our husbands that is the problem. Calling a child in a loud voice from one end of the house to come and clean his room is not damaging to his metal and emotional health. Telling your husband your opinion regarding a pressing decision is not what causes cracks in the foundation of your marriage.

The yelling and rebellion that cause the damages are the one motivated by frustration, irritation, disdain and malice.

When we go beyond sharing our opinion in a situation to nagging we begin to wear away at our husbands focus and ability to lead.

When we use yelling as a form of discipline we begin to tear down the fibers of our children's metal and spiritual health. We require that our children show self control yet we lose control of ourselves with every shriek and shrill.

We are the rebellious and riotous ones. (Exodus 4:1, 16:2, I Sam 15:23, I Cor.. 6:10). This behavior that displease the Lord.

How do we begin to become better......?

10 Tips for Biblical Womanhood

1~ Love God with a passion and show it. It should not be a mystery that you have a love relationship with God.

2~ Love your husband and show it. Encourage him and use your talents to help him be his best. A strong women is not described by how little she makes her husband look. A strong women is described by her ability to use what talents God has given her to make her family unit a success.

3~Make your home a priority. Work towards making home a haven for every family member. Keep the natural order of the family in focus God, husband (marriage) and then children.

4~Respect and consider your children. Encourage them to do and be their best. Raise them up to make God the primary focus of their lives.

5~Learn to communicate. Start by talking less and listening more.

6~Teach your children life principles such as integrity, money management, academic excellence, self confidence, self control and dependence on God.

7~Learn to do right--James 4:17 "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."

8~Be a friend.

9~Win your children's friends for Christ--encourage them to choose good friends and allow those friends to spend time with your family. (I Corinthians 15:33)

10~Learn wisdom--Pray and study scripture

Just Enough

I am not the kind of Home Maker that sits at home watching daytime television while the laundry goes undone. Dinner is always made and served around 5'ish, and the kitchen and common areas are spotless by 7'ish.

I am quite sure that it's the same way at your house or some similar resemblance of an organized home.

However in the midst of keeping my home running like a well oiled ship, I have noticed that some areas have fallen by the wayside.

One thing in particular that seems to often get placed on the back burner is ME.

Now, please don't jump to any conclusions. I am not about to advocate a girls weekend away at the spa for some pampering. Nor am I going to indulge in the idea of a week long woman's retreat to get me pumped up and back on track.

What I am talking about is something much simpler.

I have noticed that I haven't been going that extra mile in caring for myself as much as I normally would. Some days I am just TOO TIRED to wash my hair, put on make-up or shave my legs.

None of these things are done everyday, but if I am in a crunch for time or energy, I am quite sure that something from my pampering routine will be neglected.

Are these things going to place an emotional strain on my marriage? I quite sure they won't. I do however believe that once we stop doing something long enough, it becomes normal.

I don't desire for unshaven legs, disheveled hair and chipped nail polish to become the norm. Often something such as a week of caring for a sick child will throw me off of my beauty regimen. This is quite understandable. And so, I shaved my legs, applied my make-up, washed and styled my hair and put on my lotions and perfumes.

Guess what???...

He noticed!! My husband noticed...He is such a sweet man.

He rubbed my legs while we watched a movie and all of a sudden he asked, "Did you shave your legs?".

I answered "Yes", and he continued to stroke my smooth legs.

I am so looking forward to my beauty routine tomorrow.

You can read about my daily facial routine here.

Tour of my Home Making Binder

I wanted to make a video but still have not been able to get it to upload. I have instead created a pictorial tour of my HMB.

Section #1: Schedules

The first page of my coupon binder can be found here. I use both sheets found on page (2).

I slip the pages inside of a clear sheet protector and write on them with a dry erase marker. Each morning I date the sheet and begin filling in the days menu and home~keeping tasks.

The sheet has (3) section dedicated to Morning, Afternoon and Evening routines. There is space to write in the meals and boxes to check off the tasks as they are done. The thing that I love about this sheet is that it has the very same verse that I quote to myself and my children when we are having a tough morning.

Psalm 118:24 "This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

The sheets wipe off easily every night and is ready to be filled in the next morning.

The next sheet in my HMB is a calendar. I have a few throughout my binder. This one is the easiest to access.

The next page is my workout schedule at the YMCA. I have the monthly schedule and I've highlighted the classes that I'd take for each day.



Section #2: Home-Making



This is a reference guide of our daily tasks. It has everything listed here that needs to be done each day. This sheet was downloaded and edited using the Donna Young, Housework Document

Here is a closer view of the sheet. These are the basic tasks that should be completed each day. Things such as making beds, brushing teeth and tidying rooms. This sheet does not include community chores.

This sheet works especially good if I am not at home, my husband can just refer to this sheet to have a quick reference guide of my expectations.

Next I have the weekly at a glance schedule.

Here is a close up.

In the center of this form is our monthly home-making chores at a glance.

And just beneath are the quarterly tasks such as winterizing the lawn, washing the house sorting and donating clothes, etc.

Sometimes my children will forget that they are supposed to be working and not playing during chore time. I use the next few sheets with biblical reminders of the importance of diligent workers.

Here is one that teaches Godly attitude toward parents.

and here's one that promotes peace at home with family and siblings.

These can all be found at doorpost.com, however these sheets are no longer FREE. They do have a great sheet for mothers that is FREE and a Courtship Checklist if you are in that stage of life with your children.

The next page is a handwritten documentation of what I mean when I say "Go and do your kitchen chores". Everyone's standard is different as to what they consider as a job well done. I have written a specific out line of what a clean kitchen looks like according to mom's standard.

I wrote this sheet after hearing one too many "Well it looks clean to me" from my children.

Below is a handwritten checklist that the children can refer to anytime they'd like to go and play. If its a Saturday morning I'll ask "Did you do your morning chores?" . They can quickly refer to this page to answer the question as to whether or not they can play the X-box. If they see that they have not done a chore then they will go do the chore and then get permission to play.

Section #3: School

I keep awards, statewide test scores, report cards, weekly schedules and doctor's excuses in the section. I have a page with the contact info of all of the children's classmates and teachers. I have a school calendar in this section. I also have each of the children's class schedules in here. If I need to pick them up fro school I'll know exactly where they are supposed to be.

When I am homeschooling this section is used for my children's lesson plans/ I use page (2) of the fullpagedaily.

Section #4: Menu

There was a time when I would make menus every week. I began keeping those menus to use as a spring board for future menus. Whenever I am making my weekly menu I just refer back to old menus and pick meals from them. I have about 15 pages worth of meal ideas. Just like the one below.

In the front of my menu section is a Food Storage cheat sheet. I use this to determine the shelf life and freezer life of any food. I found this at Publix last year on the publication rack.

I write my weekly menu in here on a sheet protector and erase it at the end of the week.

I also keep a copy of the Hillbilly Housewife $45 Menu and the $75 menu in my binder just in case. Proverbs 31 states "she has no fear of the snow for her household is covered in scarlet".

I am very resourceful a have learned to hope for the best and plan for the worst.

Below is a daily kitchen work sheet that helps you to prepare the kitchen the day before for the following day. This sheet accompanies the menus above. I have used the same idea to stay on top of meals in my kitchen.

In the menu section you'll also find a pantry checklist.

This section helps me stay on top of activities the children are involved in at church.

The final section is for household rules and rule for living. Below is the fist from in the rules section. It covers a general outline for our lives according to the King James Bible.

I hope that you are able to grasp a general idea of how helpful a Home Making Binder can be to managing a home and family.


This post is proudly shared at Kelli's place.