A Time and A Place

I don't talk in church anymore.

For the record when I refer to "talking in church", it is exclusive to theological discussions during church service or Sunday school.

Young Peasant Women Talking, Galleria d'Arte Moderna, Palazzo Pitti, Florence

Lately, I've begun noticing that my attention was being drawn away during service. Just little whispers or giggles made by fellow church members. I would look in their direction briefly, only to return my attention to the pastor realizing that I had missed what he had said.

I too, have been guilty of whispering to my daughter and husband during service. I realized how much of a distraction I must have been to others. When we are distracted we miss things.

Have you ever noticed that women, generally speaking, use more words then a man, to convey the same idea?


This is the exception not the rule...but generally speaking, we'd all have to agree that even in today's sitcoms, we see the exasperated looks of husbands toward wives when the wife gets to making a long winded point.

By no means am I saying that we ought to consider this just because it is the idea that has been perpertrated upon us in main stream media. Much rather we should take heed lest we stumble head first into to disobedience. Even the scriptures give us instructions on where it is appropriate to speak. (I Corinthians 14:34 KJV)

I listen to women in church who correct, debate and ultimately usurp the leadership of not only their own husbands, but also proceed to impose their theological prowess upon any other men in the discussion. Teaching a man is considered shameful and is clearly scripturally forbidden.  (1 Tm 2:11-12 KJV and 1 Corinthians 14:35 KJV)

I personally have a natural tendency to talk. I consider myself well versed in scripture, literature and a variety of other topics. I am an avid reader and life long learner, however I want to use that knowledge at time when it is appropriate and edifying to the hearer.


Why is this important?

Words are so powerful. (Proverbs 18:21 KJV) For that reason, I have chosen to be very careful about how and when I use them. (Proverbs 17:27 KJV)

Do you want to read more good stuff like this? My good friend Mrs. Parunak wrote an interesting posts called "A Parable About Serving God in the Church" here's an excerpt;

God told men to be leaders in the Church and gave them shepherding and preaching roles. He gave women a lot to do as well. In 1 Timothy, in a discussion of the kind of widows the Church should care for, we get a picture of the life a godly woman should live.

…having been the wife of one man,  Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. –1 Timothy 5:9-10

We can find another assignment for women in Titus 2:3-5, where they’re commanded to teach younger women

…to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Click here to read the rest.

Saferbrand is Social Networking

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

Saferbrand.com recently launched their Safer brand's facebook page. If you are an organic gardener or are interested in learning more about organic gardening, head on over and become a fan of Saferbrand.

Who is Saferbrand?

Saferbrand.com sells products that are designed to treat garden problems from and organic approach. I support this site because I grow my own vegetables in addition to the produce I purchase from the store. I also make my own compost and would never knowingly treat my gardens with a non organic pesticide. I am hoping to grow at least ninety percent of my families produce by 2011 and with a bigger garden I'll increase the number of hungry pest in my garden.

Growing my own vegetables comes with it's own set of problems such as infestations. Choosing the best products to spray and treat my gardens is important. I want a product that can live up to their name. This summer will quite possibly be my first experience with the companies product. My gardens suffer from Japanese Beatles. They can eat through a crop in no time. Saferbrand provides a lot of helpful information in their "Organic Gardening" resource section on how to deal with these pests.

Want to learn more?

If you want to learn more about strating a garden or caring for your existing garden visit Saferbrand.com or click the following link to learn more because Safer brand is officially on twitter.

Bonus

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The Protective Veil

To my dearly beloved sisters, sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints through the will of God.

Grace and peace be unto you from our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I received a letter recently from brother Paul. It was originally addressed to the church of Corinth yet it has managed to make it's way through time and space into my hands.

In the 11th chapter and the 1st verse brother Paul began by telling me to follow him as he follow Christ, and I was overjoyed to hear that brother Paul was continuing steadfast in the Lord. I had read countless letters of his trials and triumphs in his writings to the Romans, the Galatians, the Ephesians, the Phillipians, the Colossians and the Thesselonians. I have read of his love for Our Lord and Savior and his diligence in spreading the gospel.

In Pauls letter he talked about a very specific way in shich I could demostrate honor to God and my huband by doing one simple thing. He admonoshed me to hold fast to the teacheings given to him by Christ in that a women must choose to wear a head covering as an outward demonstration of her inward commitment to accept of the order, headship, and the authority of God.

I admit that I stopped several times and reread Pauls letter to be sure of what I was reading. I analyzed his words over the last few months to dicern whether this was a matter of a message specifcally for the Corinthian women or for all women. I also needed to be clear on what Paul meant by headcovering. Some studies stated simply long hair while other argued a literal shawl or scarf for the head.

With much dilligent study and prayer for discernment, I have concluded that Paul meant that I should wear a physical scarf or shawl for my head as a symbol of my agreement with Gods given order and "chain of command.  I have been covering my head for three month now and have become very comfortable.

If this is something that you are struggling with continue in prayer asking God for guidance.

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.