Always Learning

Living On Rice And Beans

2012-03-03T16:00:00.007-08:00

Discontentment is not an economic condition; it is a heart condition, and is therefore only affected by what is within, not the circumstances without. Children of truly poor families, but raised on smiles, hugs, and a spirit of togetherness, will think they are well off. Kids fed on beans, cabbage, and cornbread will think it is the best stuff in the world. Kids never know they are poor unless someone in the family gripes about it. Michael Pearl

We have it wrong today. We think our children need all these things so the mother leaves the home all day working for things. The dad works long hours away from home working for things. Children want this and that and won't be happy if they don't get the new thing. Everyone thinks they are entitled to things, even free things.

This mentality has destroyed marriages, families, and is destroying our society. We want and don't have, so we sacrifice our marriages and families to get what we want. We go deep into debt and discontentment, thinking that a new spouse or a new thing will make us happy.

All children really want is a happy, warm, and loving family. YOU can give them that. Mommy, stay home if your husband will let you and fix your children rice and beans if that is all you can afford. They want you. They want you loving their daddy. They want you smiling and being happy. They want you enjoying life.

My grandbaby Emma is so happy. I was telling Erin's mom that Emma was going to be a happy child. Her mom responded, "How could she not be happy? She has a happy mommy, daddy, and grandma!"

That is the best gift you can give your children. Let them see the joy of the Lord spilling out of you. Be thankful for your rice and beans. Be thankful for blue skies and running water. Be thankful for Jesus living in you and all of His promises. Be thankful for everything!

This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Simple Things
Scripture and Snapshot

Quinoa, Vegetable, and Chicken Soup

2012-03-03T05:00:00.019-08:00

With the weather being cooler, I love to have soup every day. The key to a great soup is to make a good chicken stock. I use the skin, bones, and juices of my roasted chicken to make an incredible broth. The next key is to chop up a whole onion and saute it for awhile in a half a stick of butter and a quarter cup of olive oil. Let the onion become a little caramelized.

When the onion is nice and light brown, saute a few garlic cloves for several minutes. Then pour in about 6 cups of chicken stock. Heat that up and chop up any vegetables you have on hand. I usually peel and chop of a potato and yam. Then I rinse off a half cup of quinoa and put that in. Quinoa is a very healthy grain. It is easy to digest and tastes fabulous!

I bring that to a boil, turn it to simmer, and simmer 30 minutes. Season it with a couple of teaspoons of sea salt. a teaspoon of curry, a teaspoon of turmeric, a teaspoon of pepper, and a half a teaspoon of cumin or any other seasonings you like. Then I add several cups of chopped up cabbage and organic frozen vegetables. You can add any vegetables you like. Then I chop up several cups of chicken and cook for about ten minutes.

Then start tasting it and add more salt until it tastes perfect for you. I like lots of salt. I usually add some cayenne pepper also. This is the best soup!!! With the gelatin from the stock, it makes a very healthy meal. Enjoy!

Satisfying Your Sweet Tooth!

2012-03-02T16:00:00.009-08:00

Is sugar bad for you? Yes. It is bad for you. I am not a scientist, so I can't tell you exactly what it does in your body. However, I know from personal experience that it makes you fat, weakens your immune system, and can give you acne, if you are prone to it. I have read that it even feeds cancer cells.

When I was in college, my skin was so bad I quit eating all sugar. My skin cleared up completely. I don't break out anymore, but I can tell by how I feel if I have been eating too many desserts.

So what do we do to satisfy our sweet tooth?

Ken has a great protein shake he makes all the time that does a great job satisfying a sweet tooth. He loves ice cream, but because of problems with his gallbladder, he has had to give it up. This shake completely takes the place of ice cream ~

1 big scoop of Designer Whey Protein

1 scoop of organic cocoa powder
1 cup of ice

1 medium super ripe frozen banana

A small amount of stevia to taste

1/2 cup rice dream or alternative
Small amount of water to desired thickness

Put it all in a blender and blend until creamy. So good! Everyone loves this when Ken makes it for them.

Another thing that helps with our sweet tooth is an alternative coffee drink that I have found ~

1 Tablespoon roasted dandelion root

1 Tablespoon roasted chicory root

2 Tablespoons organic cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Put all of these ingredients into a french press. Cover with several cups of hot water and let steep ten minutes. Then put in stevia, rice dream, milk, or whatever and it satisfies a sweet tooth. I have this almost every afternoon. Let me warn you, this tastes nothing like coffee. You may not like this so get small bags to try it out first.

Healthy Peanut Butter Cups are always a good treat also with no refined sugars and good fats.

So this is how we satisfy our sweet tooth. We also eat some fresh fruit and fruit smoothies with kefir, berries, stevia, and frozen bananas. Frozen ripe bananas make things rich and creamy.

And their father Israel said unto them, If it be so now, do this: take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spicery and myrrh, nuts, and almonds.

Genesis 43:11

P.S. I have discovered Pinterest and love it. You can see my boards here. I have organized all of my recipes, my favorite books, products I use and love, incredible quotes, and more. So check it out if you are interested! Also, anything you order on iherb.com {cocoa or stevia}, use coupon code LEX611 for $5 off of your first order.

146 Reasons Why Sugar Is Bad For You

Being A Minimalist

2012-03-01T16:00:00.016-08:00

My Bible Study group came over for lunch. I always feed them my salad and homemade bread. We have a great time together. They are godly, warm, and loving women.

I was showing them this website of a woman who decorates her home gorgeously like the kitchen in the above photo. I love her blog and her beautiful home. I always appreciate women who know how to decorate their homes and make them beautiful.

I was thinking recently that I probably should do that more, but several of the women, when they saw that blog remarked how that is not them at all. They are minimalist and like simplicity with no clutter.

When they said that, I said, "You know what? I am the same way." I like my home clean and comfortable. I want my family to eat really healthy food, but I just don't care enough about having a gorgeous home. I realized that it is okay to not want that.

With all the beautiful homes on the television and magazines, it can easily cause us to be discontent with what we have and how our homes look. Some women have very little, but are very creative in making a beautiful home with very little money. But it isn't every one's gift. It isn't my gift and I am okay with that.

I have a good friend that has a beautiful blog. She decorates her home with old, used things and makes her home look great. That is her gift. She works wonders in her garden, also.

I think the key is to be content with what you have and what your gifts are that God gave you. I like things simple, comfortable, and uncluttered. I am happy with it that way and can be content that having a beautifully decorated home isn't important to me, but I can enjoy those who have that gift.

Let your conversation {lifestyle} be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

Hebrews 13:5

Weekend Whatever

Casting The First Stone

2012-02-29T16:00:00.013-08:00

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

{John 8:7}

Women who have husbands that are caught in pornography are sometimes asked to separate from them. I think this is the wrong advice. The Bible says that if wives have husbands that are disobedient to the Word, the wives will win their husbands without a word as they watch their wives live godly lives. {I Peter 3:1} It also tells us that a believing wife is not suppose to leave her husband.
{I Corinthians 7:13}

I always wonder what sins the wife is committing ~

Is she nagging, manipulating, or trying to change him?

Is she negative and critical towards him?

Does she show him disrespect by rolling her eyes, correcting him, and arguing with him?

If she isn't doing any of these things, but instead is loving, serving, pleasing, easily forgiving, and respecting him, then maybe she can sit in judgement of him. She must be very careful, however, to not judge his sin so much worse than hers and feel self-righteous about it.

If you have a husband caught in pornography, hopefully he will confess it, pray about it, and want to be held accountable. If not, you pray for him and love him anyways. No, it is not easy but it is God's ways and His ways work a lot better than our ways.

Men who are trapped in pornography are in a trap, a deadly trap. They hate it and what it does to them. They are in a pit and God can use you to help him climb out of that pit. Godly wives sanctify their husbands. {I Corinthians 7:14} As you live Jesus in front of them, they will be convicted of their sin and may even be released from it.

Spiritual Sundays

The Goal In Disciplining Children

2012-02-28T16:00:00.012-08:00

The goal in disciplining your children should be that they love God and obey Him. When they were young, ages one to five, we spent most of our time disciplining and training our children to be obedient to us. We reasoned if they learned to be quickly obedient to us, they would be quickly obedient to God when they got older.

We realized the importance of them knowing Jesus as their personal Savior from a young age. Without them knowing Him, nothing else mattered to us. We would sing gospel songs to them when they were young. We had them memorizing Scripture from an early age. If their hearts don't change from the power of God, all your disciplining methods will be worthless in the end. Heaven was our goal.

Having said all that, Ryan does remember being spanked! I told you in this post I didn't think my children even remembered being spanked and we didn't spank after five years old, but he does remember two times he was spanked around five or six. One time he lied to me so I spanked him for lying. He said he remembers Ken spanking him one time but he couldn't recall why. He said Ken spanked harder and longer than I did!

So I put out a questionnaire to the rest of my children to get their perspective on spanking and what they recall. I always want to be as honest as I can with all of you. My memory isn't great so I am glad I asked my children to get their perspective.

Steven remembers one time being spanked by Ken. He said he had no bad feelings about it. All of my children expressed that sentiment to me. Cassi remembers every single time she got in trouble. She has such a tender heart and hated to disappoint us. She remembers several times she got spanked and just remembers me using my leather strap. She doesn't remember the pain at all.

Matthew Henry wrote ~ It is better that he should cry under thy rod than under the sword of the magistrate or, which is more fearful, than under divine vengeance.

Therefore, you can use spanking if you use it in a way that is constructive to the child or any other method you choose as long as your goal is to train them to be obedient. Children want discipline. Life is a lot easier when they grow up as disciplined adults. It is much better they learn discipline from you, rather than from the government, or worse, from God.

Teach them to be other-centered and not self-centered. The world doesn't revolve around them. We are here to love God and serve others. Teach them this early.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
3 John 4

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Proverbs 22:15

The Mommy Club

Wedding Day Love Letter

2012-02-27T16:00:00.014-08:00

When we were all in the dressing room watching Alyssa get ready for her big day, one of the groomsmen came in and said he had a message to give to Alyssa. Then he stood there and read this to her in all of our presence ~

To my most beautiful bride ~

You are far beyond the woman of my boldest prayers and deepest desires.

Reality would not allow me to dream of marrying a girl like you, but by amazing grace and a divine miracle, God has brought us together for His good will and my unspeakable bliss.

I am overjoyed to be marrying you today, and I could not be more sure of my desire to spend the rest of my life with you in obedience to the Lord.

I can't wait to see you, and I know that you will look absolutely gorgeous.

I adore you, Alyssa.

All my love,

all my life,

Jon.

This, my friends, is a true love story. God's love stories are the best.

Ken was talking to Alyssa the other day and she said she was watching Jon work out. On the weekends when he is home, he wants to spend every moment with her.

His parents are like that...They LOVE being with each other all the time. They delight in each other. Jon had very good role models.

Alyssa is blessed to have him as her husband. They both asked God to choose their spouse. Men can learn something from Jon. He, of course, would say that he is only able to be the man that he is because of God's work in him. He always wants to give God the glory for the life that he leads.

So find a man that loves God with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength. It is a huge added benefit if they were raised in a godly home with godly parents. Those roots being deep in Jesus are a much greater possibility. For God said that the purpose of marriage is to produce godly offspring.

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9:9

52 Weeks Of Grateful

His Pursuit Of Her

2012-02-26T16:00:00.010-08:00

In celebration of their one year anniversary, I wanted to repost Jon's version of their love story. He is quite a good story writer and to get it from the guy's perspective was very entertaining. Enjoy!

I distinctly recall, about a year ago, confiding very cautiously in Tyler LaBelle, that I might, just maybe, like Alyssa. I had to be careful who I told because failure was an ever-present reality.

Until that point, I had hardly more than observed Alyssa around the Alexander house when she would be home from Jackson for a visit. I immediately noticed countless admirable qualities about her, none more obvious than her ability to make me feel like I had no chance.

Her confidence was unshakable, and her steady composure didn't entertain the hindrance of a guy like me. At this, I conceded any efforts to steal her attention, and I tried to convince myself that she wasn't all that great. My plan didn't work for long.

The night that I realized I could no longer ignore Alyssa was after she had visited a bible study that Ben Weiland and I had lead and inadvertently made a huge impression on everyone there. My all-guys prayer group at the end of the night was distracted by talk of "the new girl" who was "the hottest and holiest" they had ever seen. I haven't stopped crushing on her since.

At that point I needed a second opinion on my chances. So I told Tyler that I would do my best to hang out with her when she was home for Christmas break and I would "see if I liked her". In reality, I wanted to see if there was any possibility of her liking me. Tyler wasn't optimistic.

Nevertheless, I forced my way into some Christmas shopping that I knew she needed to complete, but I had no reason for. I tried my best to be interesting, but I grew more disheartened as time went on, and Alyssa didn't let her stone-cold poker face ease one bit.

My next chance was at Ryan and Erin's wedding. I almost flirted myself to exhaustion trying to get Alyssa's attention, all the while trying not to jeopardize my poise, of course. The closest I came to a breakthrough happened after waiting up until midnight to get a chance to talk to her alone. I feel like I did a pretty good job, but again, Alyssa didn't flinch, and I went to bed exhausted, wondering if my efforts were in vain.

I accepted the invitation to spend a week with the Alexanders in Door County, solely motivated by my third (and final, I was sure) chance to make something happen with Alyssa. After some talk of her considering moving home from Jackson for good, I was eager to offer my advice.

Much to my dismay, immediately after meeting her at the airport in Milwaukee I learned that she had made the decision to stay with Ballet Mag and continue touring for at least another year. I thought to myself, "Well, I made the trip out here; I may as well give it my best shot."

Thus ensued a week of swimming in the lake, conversations by sunset and exploring Door County on mopeds, all in an effort to pique Alyssa’s interest in me. I have never had to work so hard in my life. At the end of it all, with no more than a day left to spend, I went all in and professed to Alyssa my profound admiration toward her, explaining that if she would just move home, I would pursue her wholeheartedly, just like she deserved. I closed my eyes, gritted my teeth, and awaited her reply...

...it couldn't have been more devastating. My senses deserted me. My stomach fell out. I felt as though my mind had left my body, and I was watching the situation unfold from a third-person perspective. Alyssa was turning me down, and there was nothing I could do but watch.

She explained with perfect prose that she felt good about her decision to stay in Jackson, and she was content being single for the time being. I was completely unable to formulate coherent thoughts from that point on, so I politely wished her a good night and went to bed.

I didn't sleep for long. I woke up with a bothered mind and did my best to shake it all off with a five mile run and an early morning swim in the lake. Upon my return I found Alyssa sitting on the back deck, overlooking the lake, reading her Bible - of course. Decency told me that I should initiate conversation even if just to apologize for even mentioning the idea that she would date me.

I ventured a shaky sentence, "Umm...so, sorry about that conversation last night - it was out of the blue, I know." She made an effort to go easy on me. "No, I'm glad you told me how you feel. Don't apologize."

I spent the next few seconds thinking to myself about how post-rejection sympathy is the kind of sympathy that hurts more than it helps. But I was caught completely off guard by her next words. "I need to tell you that I like you too."

It took some time for the idea to take root in my brain. Excitement rose slowly from my stomach to the top of my head until my ears were ringing. I tried not to show it. I felt as though my heart was sending high voltage messages to my brain that my brain wasn't sophisticated enough to understand, so I said something stupid like, "Well, that's good to know."

The sun broke through the clouds a short while later ending two days of gloom. The waters of Lake Michigan turned from gray to blue. The temperamental weather of Door County, Wisconsin seemed to be mimicking my troubles, but the obvious metaphor actually didn't occur to me until several days later.

Alyssa became my girlfriend the following Sunday. We were engaged less than four months later. Even still, I often wonder to myself how this could all be real and the butterflies in my stomach regularly taunt my efforts to maintain my usual stoic manliness. I can't help but act giddy when I'm around her.

--Jon

Here is a recap of their beautiful wedding day!

I have found the one whom my soul loves.
Song of Solomon 3:4

My Gold Mercedes

2012-02-25T16:00:00.012-08:00

Yes, isn't it beautiful! It is over 28 years old and has over 300,000 miles with the same engine it was born with. {The picture actually makes it look better than it looks in real life. The paint is all worn off and the seats are torn.} My mom drove it for many years and then she gave it to us. Both my boys learned how to drive in this car and drove it for the first two years after getting their driver's licenses.

It can go from zero to 35 miles per hour in 15 minutes flat! They NEVER got a ticket driving that thing. It is a diesel and you usually have to drive it in the slow lane on the freeway, because it can't drive above 55 miles per hour.

It is a GREAT car for young boys to start off with. They never got in trouble. They went to a high school that had a lot of wealthy families in it. We liked them driving that car. We wanted them to not care about keeping up with the Jones' and material wealth. We wanted them to not mind having old, used things.

Their worth came from Christ and Christ alone. They were taught they were worthy because of Him. He calls them His sons and daughters.

I asked Ken several months ago if we could get rid of it. We share one car. We both work out of the home. I am a homemaker and he is a management consultant. We really only need one car. This car is an eye sore. It is hardly ever used.

I don't like clutter so I asked him if we could sell it. He said he didn't want to because people borrow it and we need it sometimes when one of us is using our good car. I wanted to argue with him. Then I remembered I am suppose to be submissive and obey him. We kept the car.

Well, wouldn't you know it, in the last month I have driven it at least six times! He needed our car for business and I needed a car for mentoring. Ryan is using it now, because his car is broken. I am so happy I listened to him. Even if he turned out to be wrong, I would still be right for obeying God and Ken. Pleasing God is all that really matters.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

I John 5:3

{pretty, happpy, funny, real}

Powdered Laundry Soap

2012-02-25T05:00:00.019-08:00

We have been using my old laundry soap recipe for years and love it but I found one that seems a lot easier.

1 box Borax

1 4lb. box of baking soda

1 box of Washing Soda

3 bars Fels-Naptha Soap

5 1/2 cups Oxyclean

Grate the soap finely in a food processor. Mix in a bit of the washing soda to prevent the soap from getting sticky. Combine all the ingredients in a 5 gallon bucket and stir well.

Use 1 to 2 Tablespoons per load. It comes out to about 3 cents a load. It does a great job and even works in cold water with whites and darks!

I bought the Fels-Naptha here. Some women have told me they can get it cheaper at Walmart or Ace Hardware. Our Walmart carries all of the supplies.

Also, if you can't find Washing Soda, I read that you just have to spread baking soda on a cookie sheet and bake it at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and you'll have washing soda.

I just put it in a glass container and leave in on my dryer with a Tablespoon in it all ready to go. Make sure you keep it sealed or it may start clumping up. It smells wonderful!

Feeding Pets Raw Meat?

2012-02-24T16:00:00.009-08:00

Let me just start this post by saying I am not a veterinarian. They would probably completely disagree with what I am about to tell you. Mine did.

Meeting with one of the young women I mentor, she told me she had to miss work because her cat had an asthma attack. What? I have heard that house pets are getting all the diseases that humans are getting, because they are eating cooked, processed, dead food just like most humans are eating.

What do animals in the wild eat? Cats and dogs would eat fresh, raw meat that they had just killed. So I reason that they must be meant to eat raw meat. Whenever I get organic, whole chickens from Costco, I feed the cats the gizzards, liver, kidney, and neck from inside of the chicken. They love it! I have heard it not only keeps them healthier, but keeps their teeth clean. {Don't they look healthy...nice shiny fur!}

I also buy organic dry cat food from Trader Joes. They mostly eat that but have some raw meat every day too. I don't want them to die from diabetes, asthma, heart disease, or cancer if I can help it. I know. I'm strange but it makes sense that they are healthiest if they eat the way God intended them to eat. Just as we are much healthier if we eat food as close to the way God intended for us to eat it.

Let me just warn you about something. If you decide to start giving them some raw meat, do it in small quantities at first. They may have diarrhea and pass gas until their digestive system gets used to it. My cats had those problems at first but now they never do. {We even called one of them "stink bug" for awhile!} Good luck! :)

Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

Proverbs 12:10

Food Renegade

Integrity Through Trials

2012-02-23T16:00:00.003-08:00

Bradley, my nephew, LOVES basketball! Steven, my son, had a fairly successful high school basketball experience. He started as the point guard on the varsity team his freshmen year. He played almost every minute all four years. His senior year, his team went to the state championship game at Arco Stadium in Sacramento.

Bradley is a few years younger than Steven. He went to almost all of Steven's home games and even some of his away games. He was Steven's number one fan! He and his family drove all the way to Sacramento to see Steven play.

He was very disciplined and worked out hard doing many push-ups and sit-ups every day. He wanted to play high school basketball so badly. He shot a ton of baskets daily getting prepared for it. When he finally got to high school, he didn't play much. It broke my sister's heart. {Ken did remind me that he was the best three point shooter on the team!}

I couldn't go to many games, because of my neck fusion and the pain it caused. I did go to several, however. Bradley was the biggest cheerleader on that team. He would stand up during the game cheering the players on. As soon as they came back to the bench, he would be the first one up patting the guys on the back and encouraging them.

He got to play some and when he did, my sisters would cheer him on loudly. They knew he loved to play and he was a good player. He received the Eagle Award his senior year. That goes to the player who showed the most integrity on the team.

Dennis Prager says that the losing team always is learning more than the winning team. Bradley learned a lot more through his disappointment, than Steven did through his success.

He learned that life isn't fair.

He learned that you don't always get what you want, even if you work really hard.

He learned to keep a good attitude, even when he was so disappointed.

He learned to cheer others on, even when he wanted to be playing so badly.

He learned to rejoice with those who rejoice, even if he didn't feel like it.

Bradley has turned into an incredible, young man. He is a man of integrity. Not living his dream has been okay. Yes, it was hard but in the scope of life, it wasn't all that important. Pleasing the Lord in all things is a much more important lesson and Bradley learned that well.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor than silver or gold.
Proverbs 22:1

P.S. I shared this with my parents the other day. They were both weeping when I finished. My mom said, "I feel so badly for Bradley." My dad said, "I would rather him get the Eagle Award and walk with Jesus than be the first round draft pick in the NBA." The precious love of grandparents for their grandchildren!

True Freedom In Submission

2012-02-22T16:00:00.001-08:00

There are some incredibly intelligent women that comment on my blog frequently. I am smart, but I wouldn't say I am highly intelligent! I love learning and sharing, but as you can see, my message is usually pretty simply stated.

Andrea, from The Rightthinker, is one of those incredibly intelligent women. I wanted to share with you one of her comments she left on my blog about submission, because I thought it was SO good!

The most interesting aspect to me, of critics of biblical submission in marriage, is not that it is Scriptural or not {it clearly is, it's rather if a person wishes to accept the Bible as Truth or not} but rather the "but" argument.

Whenever a person begins an argument with "but", it completely disregards what comes before it. For example, "Yes, God commands submission and roles for women and men, but I know an abuser who....." So, the comment there is that the commandment is negated by the sinfulness and disregard of His Word by some people.

Additionally interesting to me, is that women who have humbled their hearts enough to submit to their husbands, are the ones who have the very happiest of marriages. The husbands are the happiest, and supported in order to be the leaders of the home financially and spiritually.

They don't need to come home and compete with a woman who desires to be the leader. There is little to no fighting..there is complete unity..there is marital solidity in every way. God's plan is always perfect, no matter how much society pretends it's too outdated.

Those who reject God's teachings on submission don't live in a marriage where it takes place, and therefore cannot understand the joy and the growth in Christ that it brings. They hold onto their worldly ways with such ferocity that all we are able to see is their anger and hatred for the very role for which they were so beautifully created.

Ladies, there is joy in laying down the feminist myth in pursuit of obedience to God's Will. His ways are better than our own. You can fool yourself about the reasons you don't wish to comply, but don't fool yourself that it's God's Will.

People think that if they get to do things their own way, then they will be free. No, true freedom comes from doing things God's way. The TRUTH absolutely sets you free.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

Ephesians 5:22,23

Lost Art Of Homemaking

2012-02-21T16:00:00.005-08:00

Women aren't taught the importance of homemaking anymore. One of their most important jobs, if they are a wife and mother, is to keep a clean, tidy home and prepare healthy, nourishing food. There are just too many distractions that seem to cause women to neglect these important jobs.

Many women don't even cook anymore. The single most important thing to having healthy bodies is to prepare your own food from scratch. This takes time. If you eat a lot of fresh food, you have to shop more often. Washing and cutting up salads and vegetables takes a lot of time, but it is worth it.

Healthy husbands and children should be a priority over spending time on the computer, watching television, or doing home projects. It should even be more important than church Bible studies or other ministries. Your first ministry is to your family.

Clean and tidy homes should also be a priority. God is a God of order, peace, and beauty. You need to spend time every day making sure your home is picked up and cleaned. Train your children to help you as soon as they start walking. Here are several verses about disorder ~

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding: And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

Proverbs 24:30,31

By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through.

Ecclesiastes 10:18

We need to be good steward of what the Lord has blessed up with. We need to be hard workers and take good care of our family's health and home. We need to be lights to a dark world in all areas.

Don't let clutter take control of your life. You take control of clutter. Remember, everything is going to burn someday. Don't hold onto things you aren't using. Give them to someone who might need and use them. Don't hoard. Remember that God is your provider. Hold onto things very loosely.

So no matter how much or how little money that you have or how big or small your home is now, make it a clean and organized home. This promotes peace in husbands and children. This is your job, ladies. Don't expect your husbands to do your work. You do your work with a cheerful and thankful attitude!

And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.

Colossians 3:23

The Perversion Of Universities

2012-02-20T16:00:00.001-08:00

This is a volatile subject! People have VERY strong opinions about this topic as seen on the many comments on Girls Going To College. It seems most disagree with me, but that is okay. I am not God and I don't know everything. I just write my own convictions.

Cassi went to Biola University her freshmen year. Biola stands for Bible Institute Of Los Angeles. It is a good university. It is one of the handful of universities left that still teaches Truth. She especially loved her Bible classes. The professors were good teachers.

She went to a community college near home when she was nineteen years old. It only cost $400 a semester which was much cheaper than Biola. The first assignment given to her in her sociology class was a fifteen page study on gay bathroom sex. She read the first half page full of explicit details and was disgusted. She showed Ken and he told her that she wasn't going to read anymore and to email her teacher. Her teacher told her she had to read it or it would affect her grade. She dropped the class.

When I told a friend about this recently, she thought Cassi should have written a response to it showing the other side of the issue. I told her that the Bible tells us not to even know what perversion happens behind closed doors.

For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Ephesians 5:12

To be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.
Romans 16:9

To dwell on the lovely, the pure, and the good.
Philippians 4:8

Several years later when she was twenty one years old and grounded in her faith, she went to the local university. One class discussed gay sex in prisons. On gay pride day, several of her classes spent the whole class time discussing gay lifestyles. I don't think there are many parents out there that pay big bucks for their children to learn this trash.

Dennis Prager believes higher education is the single most destructive thing in our society. It has taken God completely out of the teaching and instead is teaching humanism and left wing ideology. They teach the government is the answer to all our problems when the welfare state has destroyed families. They teach that abortion and homosexuality are good things.

I know many of you think higher education is great. If you can afford it without going into deep debt, if you don't mind left wing indoctrination or if you do and can find a good Bible teaching college or online college, then go for it. I just want you to be wise. Don't go blindly along with what society is doing. It is the broad path that leads to destruction.

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.

I Timothy 6:20,21

Knit Together In Love

2012-02-19T16:00:00.001-08:00

Love protects you! The thing that is most important to God is that we love Him and love others. The Bible states that we should be knit together in love {Colossians 2:2} and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness {Colossians 2:13}.

The most common way we forget to love others is by having a critical attitude towards them. Before you criticize anybody, STOP and remember what God has forgiven you for ~ ALL trespasses! {Colossians 2:13}

It is so easy to judge and criticize others for their faults and bad habits. This can be extremely dangerous. I have never used The Message Bible on this blog, because I think it waters down the Truth too much. However, this interpretation of Matthew 7:1,2 was so funny and right on that I thought I would use it for this post. It states ~

Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults - unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging {OUCH!}.

We reap what we sow. We are to be known for loving others. Criticizing and finding fault with others is far from loving them and far from the heart of God. Put away critical spirits! They are from the Devil.

So start obeying God and become knit together in love with your husband, children, in-laws, neighbors, bosses, Democrats, Republicans, and everyone else God puts in your path.

Determine to not say or even think negative thoughts about others, including pastors or teachers! Pray for them instead. This is the way to really love others. For his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart {Luke 6:45}. Fill your heart with good, positive thoughts of others!

Ken and I are knit together in love now. Oh, I can tell you that it is a precious thing to really love your husband. I no longer think or say negative thoughts about him. Our relationship is so enjoyable now. I just love God's ways.

Clean Air Of Gospel Living

2012-02-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

Doesn't that sound wonderful? We need to be raising our children in the clean air of gospel living! Rachel Jankovic came up with that phrase in her article entitled, "Motherhood is A Calling." Here are a few of her comments ~

Live the gospel in the things that no one sees. Your testimony to the gospel in the little details of your life is more valuable to your children than you can imagine...Give your life for theirs every day, joyfully. Lay down pettiness. Lay down fussiness. Lay down resentment about the dishes, about the laundry, about how no one knows how hard you work. Stop clinging to yourself and cling to the cross.

I believe that when children see the gospel being lived out faithfully and joyfully, they will want what you have and embrace it. The gospel is clean air like a breath of fresh air in this dark and decaying society.

The gospel gives us hope, whereas society gives us doom and gloom.

The gospel gives life. The society gives us death and destruction.

The gospel gives joy. Society gives fear and anxiety.

The gospel keeps promises. Society makes empty promises.

The gospel gives peace. Society gives arguing, fighting, and dissension.

The gospel gives forgiveness. Society gives bitterness and grudges with no forgiveness.

Cling to Jesus. Cling to His promises. Live His life out in front of your family. Let them see how absolutely wonderful it is living for Him and that His ways are best. Laugh and smile a lot. Let them see the joy of the Lord living through you!

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:19,20

Scripture And A Snapshot

Sunday

Doctors Are Not God

2012-02-17T17:00:00.006-08:00

There have been some comments on my health posts from people who say they are doctors and tell me how wrong I am to play my own doctor or give advice. Many people have played their own doctor after using doctors for years and not getting better.

Doctors haven't been able to heal a lot of diseases. They told my mom she would never be healed of colitis, but guess what, she was healed. She did completely opposite of what the doctors told her to do.

Doctors are great in emergency situations. They saved my life when I had a brain tumor. They got me out of extreme pain with a neck fusion. I am forever grateful for their skill in helping me get better.

But they aren't so successful in chronic conditions like eczema, allergies, asthma, autoimmune diseases, etc. They can usually help manage the symptoms, but not heal the patient. Also, drugs have many harmful side effects.

This is why I have studied nutrition for so many years. No, I am not a doctor and never claim to be one. Doctors absolutely are to be respected and have their place in our society. But many people have healed themselves through alternative measures either through all raw foods, herbs, fasts, chiropractors, etc.

I realize doctors still think vaccinations don't cause autism. Unfortunately, there are many mothers out there who said that their children were fine before being vaccinated. One must weigh all sides and prayerfully consider the actions they want concerning their health. This is a free country and people should be able to do with their health whatever they think is best without the other side condemning them for their actions.

Some have told me I shouldn't write about health since I am not a doctor and haven't had the education. Well, you know what, I am an educated woman who has learned a lot from reading, studying, and trying things myself. I like to share them with others. They can take my advice or leave it. I am not forcing my opinions on any body. I am simply sharing what has worked for me!

I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

My Cute Niece And Daughter

2012-02-16T17:00:00.003-08:00

Alisa and I shook hands before we were married and proudly proclaimed that we would both have four children. Well, I was the only one who held my end of the deal. Thankfully, I have Cassi. She is my fourth. We would have loved having more children, but it was not meant to be.

Alisa quit at three. They felt that was enough. Both of our daughters are not married yet. {Sorry, boys, my daughter on the right is already married!}

They have busy, active lives. Ali went to Bible school in Germany and then culinary school in Manhattan. Cassi is working towards getting her teaching credential.

They both love Jesus. They go to church and bible studies consistently. They both live at home. Ali cooks up a storm for her parents as often as possible. Cassi bakes bread and yummy, healthy treats for us. They are preparing to be very good help meets.

You would all love them. They smile and laugh a lot. They want manly men. Men who will pay for their meals and work hard. Men who won't mind if they stay home and raise babies. Men who will protect them.

So if you have a godly son like that, just send me a picture with a resume and I will forward it to them...No, they would hate me for doing that! :) {Well, maybe they wouldn't...} They know God will send His perfect pick for them in His perfect timing and in His perfect will for their lives, because that is what they are seeking. In the mean time, they are sure enjoying life.

The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit.

I Corinthians 7:34

I Am Pro-Choice

2012-02-15T17:00:00.000-08:00

Abortion always causes heated debates, because both sides feel so passionate about what they believe in. I have decided I am pro-choice. You have freedom of choice if you choose to have sex outside of marriage or if you choose to wait until you are married. When you choose to have sex outside of marriage and a human being is being created because of that choice, I feel you should have no choice to destroy that human being.

Your freedom of choice comes only when and if you want to have sex. The human being growing inside your body as a result of that choice is another human being. It is not your own body.

To bear a child and even put it up for adoption is a wonderful thing. Many, many couples would want to adopt the baby. If you choose to abort, most women suffer years of pain and guilt knowing full well that they allowed their baby to be killed. Abortions have even been linked to increased rates of breast cancer.

Yes, God is a loving and forgiving God. If you have had an abortion, He will forgive you, but that won't stop me from encouraging women who are pregnant now to have that precious baby. You will not be sorry. God allowed that baby to be conceived and is being created inside your womb.

My main encouragement to young women is to choose right now to wait to have sex until marriage. Your virginity is a wonderful gift to give to your future husband someday. You aren't an animal and you have the self-control to wait despite what society wants you to believe. You can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you!

Most young people want to be given boundaries ~

They feel loved with boundaries.

They want to be told they can live within those boundaries and they are for their protection.

They want to know they can say "No" and wait until marriage when a man will love them enough to make a commitment to them before they give them their bodies.

They need to be told they have value and are loved by an Almighty God who loves them dearly.

They need to hear the freedom the Gospel provides.

So go and tell them! Tell them not to listen to the destructive lies that society is telling them. God is our Creator and His ways are best.

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:13-16

Celebrating Homosexuality

2012-02-14T17:00:00.001-08:00

This society no longer just tolerates homosexuality, it celebrates it. I have even heard many Christians say they don't mind the thought of homosexual marriage, because it doesn't affect them. ALL sin affects us...

As homosexuality becomes more common and celebrated, it will have a detrimental effect on our society as ALL sin, whether it be greed, covetousness, discontentment, slander, critical and judgmental attitudes, etc. hurts society.

As a society celebrates homosexuality or any other sin, you will have more of it. Sexual orientation is not fixed. Mark Driscoll in his book Real Marriage states that men who start viewing child pornography, start having a sexual desire for children. Sin breeds sin.

Your children will now be raised being asked if they want to marry a man or a woman. They will have to ponder that and it will cause confusion in their minds. Homosexuality will greatly increase. It is a deadly lifestyle. I don't know why anyone would want to celebrate a deadly lifestyle. Actually, all lifestyles apart from Christ are deadly lifestyles...We must remember that and keep it all in perspective.

However, God is on His throne. Even as society gets darker by the day, we have nothing to fear. We need to continue to be salt and light raising our children in God's Word. They must be taught that marriage was instituted by God to be between one man and one woman. We must work on making our marriages strong and an example to our society, not another divorce statistic.

With all this being said, we must still reach out and love homosexuals. They are lost sinners just like every one else who hasn't experienced the cleansing blood of forgiveness. Every sin separates us from a holy God, but His grace and forgiveness covers all who believe.

We must share this truth with the homosexuals in our life and love them earnestly just as we would any other sinner. They, too, need a Saviour! Love wins people, not condemnation. Remember to hate the sin, all sin, but love the sinner.

Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a disgrace in any society.
Proverbs 14:34

My question to all of you ~ What sin in your life are you tolerating or maybe even celebrating? Instead of pointing your finger at other sinners, point it at yourself and rid your life of that sin with the Holy Spirit working powerfully inside of you.

Delight In Your Husband!

2012-02-13T17:00:00.002-08:00

How many of you truly delight in your husband?

We have mentored some unhappy couples. We've known many people who have gotten divorced. The sad thing is that most of these couples who are unhappy with each other and argue all the time or have gotten divorced are nice people. One-on-one with the wife is a wonderful time spent with her. She's a good woman. Talking with the husband, I can tell he is a good man, also.

What happens? Why do two nice people end up fighting and getting divorced?

They stop learning to enjoy each other. Life is short! It is too short to make any body's life miserable.

Take my parents, for instance. They argued all the time when I was growing up. They are both nice people. Now they enjoy each other {better late than never}. The same goes for Ken and me. All four of us are all nice people. We just forgot to keep enjoying each other.

I write this blog, because I want more couples to enjoy each other and stay together. It only takes one person to stop arguing and start smiling. Why not it be you?

I am mentoring one young woman. She's only been married four years, but so regrets not knowing all that I am teaching her a long time ago. I tell her it is better now than never. It is never too late to start enjoying your husband and having a better marriage.

Realize he isn't going to change. Stop letting little things that he does bother you. Start encouraging him. Lighten up and start having fun. Thank God for him every day! A thankful heart accomplishes much.

I believe most couples could have a good marriage as long as they aren't married to a truly evil man or woman. All it takes is a decision of the mind to start thinking good thoughts about the other person. Your actions flow out from your thoughts. Renew your mind with God's truth.

Set your mind on enjoying your husband. Don't get offended easily or hold grudges. Make the decision to walk in love. Decide to be joyful and not argue anymore. Start serving each other. This is what being truly rich really looks like...

Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Philippians 2:2,3

5 minute Friday
{pretty, happy, funny, real}
Finer Things Friday

The Marriage Killer

2012-02-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

No, it is not adultery, surprisingly. It is nagging! Nagging slowly eats away the marriage, according to Elizabeth Bernstein from The Wall Street Journal. It is typically the wife who is the one nagging. Even Scripture has verses specifically directed towards women ~

A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
Proverbs 27:15

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

Proverbs 25:24

The author said that nagging your husband makes him feel like a little boy being scolded by his mother. Wow! That statement sure puts it all in perspective and helps us understand why it is so dangerous to marriages.

So how can learn to stop nagging your husband?

By accepting him and loving him just the way that he is and not trying to change him.

By looking at all of his good qualities and dwelling on them.

By renewing your mind with God's truth. Study the Bible.

By looking up all the verses of what a godly woman looks like.

By doing a word study on arguing, quarreling, and strife in the Bible.

By studying and meditating on all the verses about peace in the Bible.

By forgiving him and realizing that no one is perfect.

I KNOW you can accomplish this. I nagged Ken for 23 years. I have not nagged him at all the past eight years. So if you nag, admit it and start working on changing this ugly, destructive habit. With God all things are possible. Your husband will love it if you stop and it may even save your marriage!

Weekend Whatever

Seek First His Kingdom

2012-02-11T17:00:00.000-08:00

Whenever Ken and I mentor a couple, one of the first things we encourage them to do is to read a chapter of the Bible everyday together and pray. His Word is living and active and changes you. It is important to be in His Word daily to remind ourselves how we are to live and who we are in Christ.

We, as believers, should be content, happy, and peaceful witnesses to the greatness of God as we choose daily to walk in the Spirit. The way that we live our lives should attract others to Jesus. When we love those around us and show them God's joy, they just may want what we have!

Joyless Christians don't do the work of God any good. Who wants that? If you aren't joyful, examine yourselves to make sure you are in the faith. If you have hidden sins, confess them to someone you trust who will pray with you and hold you accountable. Do everything in your power to walk closely with Jesus.

Join a good, Bible believing church. Attend regularly even if you don't agree with everything taught 100%. Get involved. Walk up to people and be friendly instead of waiting for people to be friendly with you. People are attracted to warm and friendly people.

Be committed to your church. Love others in spite of their failings. Be at peace with others. Be the maintainer of peace! If you have an issue with someone, go to them privately in love.

I love getting up first thing in the morning, reading a few devotionals, praying, and studying a chapter or two of the Bible. I love meditating on verses. I read the same verses everyday for a week so I really understand them and they go from my head to my heart.

I have a prayer list that I pray over every day. If I tell someone I am going to pray for them, I put it on my list and pray for them. God tells us we don't have because we don't ask, so ask in faith believing he rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Don't nag your husband to do this with you. Ask him once. If he doesn't want to do it, start praying that God will convict His heart about it. Then leave it safely in God's hands. He is mighty to do more than we can even ask or imagine.

What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Mark 11:24

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16

Women In The Word
Brag On God
Living The Life Of Faith
Spiritual Sundays

Organic ~ Yes Or No?

2012-02-10T17:00:00.001-08:00

Organic is usually more expensive than non-organic food. Is it worth the price difference? I believe it absolutely is better. Many will argue that non-organic food is fine for you. How can you think that food sprayed with a ton of chemicals is good for you?

My mom drove 30 miles each way once a week to get organic foods for us starting when I was five years old. She had been diagnosed with colitis, told it was incurable, and went searching for an alternative. She KNEW it was curable, despite what the doctors told her.

So after years of trying different things, she was finally completely healed. She lived on organic fruit and vegetable juices to let her colon heal. Then she ate very healthy, cutting out all meat and dairy until it was completely healed.

The body has an amazing ability to heal itself given the right fuel. Food that is not organic is filled with chemicals. Chemicals weren't made for the human body. Food, in its natural state the way God made it, is perfect food for us.

Man cannot improve upon what God made. Meat that is not organic is filled with antibiotics, hormones, and pesticides. Cows were meant to eat grass, not grains. Common sense tells me we should be eating grass fed meat, the way God intended.

On the news this morning was a scientist who said that unless your food is labeled organic, it is filled with hormones, chemicals, preservatives, etc. The foods have been tested and are only allowed by the FDA to be labeled organic only if they are free from all these harmful things.

Cancer is expensive. It is a terrible disease. Chemicals hurt your immune system's ability to fight cancer. A healthy immune system is crucial in fighting off disease. I am not afraid of germs. A healthy immune is also the best way to protect yourself from germs.

So do everything in your ability to have a healthy immune system. Cut out eating at restaurants, going to movies, etc. if it is the only way you can buy organic food. Losing your health is not fun. Being healthy is wonderful and you have a lot to do with how healthy you are, so start taking responsibility for your health.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.
3 John 2

Her is a post and clip of a woman who healed herself of MS ~
Reversing MS through dietary changes

Alphabe~Thursdays

God's Healing Balm

2012-02-09T17:00:00.001-08:00

When you crawl into bed and are having trouble falling asleep, what do you do? This happened to me the other night. I was having troubled thoughts and my mind couldn't rest. I knew I needed the peace that only Jesus could offer.

Carol Hopson's book The Journey From Feelings To Faith was beside my bed so I started reading it. After each chapter, there are questions and verses you can ponder. There were at least six Bible verses to write out, so I went about writing each one out word for word. I knew I needed some of God's Word renewing my mind.

Then I read about Carol's simple, deep faith and it was like a healing balm to my soul. God's Word and His ways are life. She reminded me that we are to be a sweet aroma of Jesus that draws others to Him. I want my life to look like that. Her life sure does.

Wherever she goes, she tells others about Jesus, either with her words or her actions. Whenever she leaves her home, she asks the Lord to use her. The people in the grocery store who fill the shelves know her. She stops and talks with them whenever she sees them. She brings them gifts. She shares Jesus while her hair is being done and those around her who are listening have come to know Jesus.

She is like Tim Tebow. They are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. They live and breath it and want everyone to know their precious Savior.

I want to be like Carol and Tim. I want to truly love all those that God puts in my path. I want my life and my words to point them to Christ. Think what a powerful church we would be if we all lived like that in front of this dark and decaying world?

People need Jesus. Many are lost and lonely, searching for answers. Pray each day that God will use you in the lives of your children, husbands, friends, and strangers. This world needs love, God's love.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes.

Romans 1:16

P.S. I just purchased several copies of Carol's books. If you can't afford to buy one, yet feel like it is something that could help you in this time of your life, leave me a comment with your email address. I will pick several of you and mail you a copy.

If any of you live in the San Diego area, she is having a one day retreat entitled A Spa For The Soul In Troubled Times. I went to her last one and it was incredible!!!

The Notebook

2012-02-08T17:00:00.001-08:00

My parents are in their eighties. They celebrate their 60th anniversary this June. They watched The Notebook together the other night. They hardly ever watch movies together. They were both crying at the end. My dad said that the movie reminded him of his relationship with my mom...

My parents married young. My mom knew he was a good man who loved Jesus. He worked hard and was preparing to be a doctor. He was an only child. She was one of seven. He was a loner. She loved a party. He loved his projects. She loved people. He saved money. She spent money.

They argued a lot while I was growing up. I even thought, at one point, they would get divorced. No, they were in it for life even though they didn't enjoy doing the same things or being together much.

My mom is the one who gave me Created To Be His Help Meet over eight years ago. She read it also. Their marriage improved. {It is never too late!} They are enjoying each other now. She is so glad they stuck it out. Growing old with someone that you have had children with and lived life with is a beautiful thing.

I am not sure I could compare their lives with those of the couple in The Notebook. Their love story wasn't so passionate, but I think they may end up the same....By each other's side supporting each other until the day that they die.

Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

Proverbs 5:18

Simple Things

Women Pastors Revisited

2012-02-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

On my post entitled Women Preachers I had over 100 comments. It was definitely my most commented on post. The reasons most thought women should be preachers were ~

They love their women pastors.

There were a lot of women in leadership positions in the Bible.

God loves women and they should get to be pastors.

Not one person who commented could give me one verse that said women could be a preacher in a church, being a leader and teacher over men. This is what the Bible specifically prohibits. It allows a lot of room for women to be in ministry and play a huge role in the church. But God doesn't want women in leadership positions in the church over men.

Debi Pearl gives a lot of good arguments why she believes this is the way God commands this ~

As a general rule, man is ruled more by his mind than the female, who is governed more by her sensibilities. God designed the woman to be sensitive and vulnerable for the sake of the little ones whom she must nurture.

Vulnerability is a woman's greatest natural asset and the point of her greatest weakness. We ladies are more inclined to trust in our feelings and intuition than men, which makes us more subject to deception.

For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

{I Timothy 2:13,14}

Experience proves that women are prone to claim God as their authority, when God had nothing at all to do with their "leading." When a woman steps outside her divinely ordained nature and assumes the dominant role, she will soon become emotionally and physically exhausted, and dangerous.

My church doesn't allow women preachers and I am very thankful. We have incredible women teachers that teach women and children, however. They are great Bible teachers and wonderful women of God. However, I love that men are the ones in charge of my church as a whole. This doesn't offend me in the least or make me think that I have less value. Our pastors love and respect women. They are great men and great leaders.

When We Spanked

2012-02-06T17:00:00.000-08:00

A young mother asked me to be more specific when and in what situations we spanked our children when they were young. As you know, I flicked their cheek once when they were nursing and bit me. It stopped them from biting immediately.

When they started to crawl and would start to stick their fingers in a light socket, we would say "no" and swat their hand. After that, we would only have to say "no" and they wouldn't touch things we didn't want them to touch.

As they got older, if we asked them to do something and they said "no" or refused to do it, we would give them a few hard smacks on their bottom with a small leather strap. This taught them very quickly to obey us when we asked them to do something.

If they were whining, we would have them go sit somewhere {on the unlit fireplace hearth} until they could behave themselves. If they were arguing with their sibling, we made them sit right next to each other on the couch for ten minutes or so until they could hug each other and be best friends!

One time when Ryan was four and Steven was two, Ryan pushed Steven down so he fell on his bottom. Ken had Ryan come over and pushed Ryan down on his bottom. He asked Ryan how he liked that and Ryan said he didn't like it, so he never did it again. Each of them only had one tantrum. We nipped that in the bud right away.

Ken was always telling the children that Alexanders' love each other. Our children rarely argued. We wouldn't put up with it. We never spanked them after they were five years old. I don't think any of them ever remember being spanked. It was very rare. They were quick learners.

We expected them to obey us the first time we asked them to do something. Sometimes if they didn't, we would give them a warning, but usually they obeyed the first time we asked.

The key is to be consistent and follow through. After we spanked them, we would cuddle with them and talk to them about why we spanked them. They always loved the making up part!

It isn't easy to discipline your children. It is hard actually, because you love them so much. But we didn't want brats. We wanted to be able to take our children places and have others enjoy them.

None of them ever got in trouble at school or with anyone in authority. Even the coaches in high school and college loved them. They respected authority, even those coaches and ballet teachers that were really tough. They never talked back to them, even when they were being treated unfairly. They knew life wasn't fair. Ken taught them that, so they learned to live with that.

I love my children. God blessed me so much. Take good care of those blessings from God. Oh, and I also had them memorize a ton of Scripture growing up. I wanted God's Word hidden in their hearts, so they wouldn't sin against Him.

Raising children takes a lot of hard work and time. This is why I am so passionate about mothers being home full time with them. It is so worth it to have great children turn into great adults.

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Proverbs 13:24

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol. My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.

Proverbs 23:13-15

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Proverbs 22:15

P.S. From now on, I am going to be deleting comments that aren't thoughtful disagreements, questions, or comments on the specific post. If you take things out of context, misconstrue my words, or tell me I abused my children or that I encourage women to stay in abusive situations, which is completely false, I will delete your comment. Not one of my children would say they were abused in any way. They all enjoyed childhood. The only thing they said I could have changed was to let them eat more candy!

Does Respect Equal Submission?

2012-02-05T18:00:00.002-08:00

It is the husband's duty to love his wife as Christ loved the church. It is the wife's duty to submit to her husband in everything....These are very tough commands.

I read many marriage books in the first 23 years of my marriage when we had a lousy marriage. I wanted to be a good wife so badly, but for some reason I missed what that missing ingredient was...

Most marriage books teach the women to respect their husbands. That is a good thing, but I don't think it has nearly the power that submission has in changing a marriage.

I was talking about this with my sister. I was telling her how most books teach on respecting your husband or becoming best friends with him, etc. instead of submission. Her comment to me was, "When you submit to your husband, he wants to become your friend." Exactly!

God used the word submission for a reason. It means unresistingly or humbly obedient. It is a much more active word than respect. The Bible does exhort women to respect their husbands once, but it exhorts women to submit and obey several times.

So on top of respecting your husband, start really submitting to him. No, it isn't easy. It takes God's Spirit working in you to be able to submit to him. You won't like his decisions all the time. You won't like what he asks you to do all the time. {And as long as they aren't contrary to God's Word and he isn't physically abusing you, you are commanded to obey him.}

This draws a man to his wife. Some say it will cause abuse. From my experience, it is exactly the opposite. It causes a man to love her more and protect her more fiercely. God KNOWS what He is talking about. He made us and wants the best for us. Submission can even win a husband without a word. Oh, the mysterious ways of God. I love them. They work. They are good.

For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands. Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

II Peter 3:5

Frugality ~ A Good Thing?

2012-02-04T18:00:00.001-08:00

Yes, it is a good thing. The dictionary defines frugality this way ~

The quality of being frugal or prudent in saving; the lack of wastefulness: many people who have lived through periods of economic deprivation develop lifelong habits of frugality and are almost never tempted by wasteful consumption.

Our society is extremely wasteful. We have so much. We don't know what it is like to go hungry. Even a lot of the poor in our country are overweight. As believers, we need to be good stewards of this earth, our money, and our possessions.

BUT, you can be so frugal that you become selfish and that is completely opposite of how Jesus wants us to live. There are many verses about being generous and helping those in need. We reap what we sow.

The Bible doesn't say anything about being frugal, but it does have a lot to say about being generous. It is very easy to become stingy and selfish when you want to be frugal. I know. I became that way when I was caught up in being frugal and it wasn't pretty. Here are some verses on being generous ~

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Luke 6:38

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Galatians 6:7

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Acts 20:35

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Proverbs 11:24,25

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

I Timothy 6:17-19

We know debt is bad so we must live within our means and not be wasteful, but we must believe God. He says you reap what you sow. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Everyone loves being around generous people. Remember God is our provider. Trust Him from whom all blessings flow.

My sister's New Year's Resolution was to not spend any money this year except on the basics. She is a generous person. She started a blog about her adventures and it is fun to see how she is continuing to be generous without spending money! Join her here if you would like to follow her on her journey.

Frugal Friday

Problems With Parasites

2012-02-03T18:00:00.004-08:00

Do you have diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain? Have you tried everything and nothing seems to help? I had those three symptoms severely for years. I went to gastroenterologists and infectious disease specialists. The infectious disease specialist at UCLA told me it was in my head. The one at UCSD told my I looked like I came from a concentration camp and just needed to start eating.

After another horrible night, Ken took me to a family doctor several blocks from our home. He asked me if I'd ever had a stool test. I told him, "No." I took the stool test and one of the best infectious disease specialist in the country told my dad that he'd never seen someone so full of parasites. Most people have three to four per oil field. I had ten per oil field.

Thus began a long journey of a cocktail of drugs that resembled chemotherapy. Just enough drugs to kill the parasites, but not kill me. It was horrible. After the stool tests showed I had no more parasites, I was still so sick. Thankfully, I found Dr. Marshall. { You can just email Jana here instead. She will answer all your questions and she's great!}

I started taking his Parastat, living on kefir, and taking HCL and digest. After many months, I started feeling better. I would recommend any of you dealing with gut issues that just don't seem to get better to give his clinic a call. They will give you a protocol specifically for your age and weight.

Cassi had to leave her freshmen year of college, because she was suffering from stomach problems. I put her on the same protocol and her gut is so much better today. It doesn't happen over night, but with persistence and discipline, it will get a lot better.

My recommendation to prevent parasites is to make sure you are going to the bathroom every day and aren't constipated. Take HCL and digest after meals. Make sure you have some kefir or good, organic whole yogurt every day. These measures should help keep a healthy gut.

Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.

3 John 2

Oh, and don't forget that I am not a doctor!

Voting For Our Leaders

2012-02-02T18:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, this isn't our home, but I have always felt that since we have been given the freedom to vote for our leaders, we should vote. This isn't a biblical mandate but God definitely commands us to pray for our leaders so that we can lead a quiet and peaceable life.

He commands us to love others. We have to then chose to go about loving others. He expects us to act upon His commands. Since He tells us to pray for our leaders, it seems He would want us to do our part in getting good leaders.

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bears rule, the people mourn.

Proverbs 29:2

Well, hello! We have the freedom and the opportunity to put in good leaders. They might not believe the same way we do about a lot of things, but we should vote for the leaders that we think would be best, not perfect, just best. If we don't, that is essentially voting for the leaders we think would be worse.

America is an amazing country. God has blessed America. I am so thankful to be raised here. We have the freedom to worship God, listen to sermons on the radio, watch preachers on television, and even our Senators open up with prayer.

Let's do our part ~ pray and vote. Vote for the people who share most of your values. We want Supreme Court justices who value life and the sanctity of marriage. Don't become apathetic. Never give up! God is still on His throne and His people are filled with His Spirit. There is hope. There will always be hope.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; For kings and for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

I Timothy 2:1,2

Flicking A Baby's Cheek

2012-02-01T18:00:00.000-08:00

Boy, did I get it from some of you for flicking my babies' cheeks when they were nursing and bit me. I only had to do it once to each of them and they stopped. I did it hard enough that they cried. I didn't want my breast bitten into. I meant business. I wasn't going to fool around with them in this area. They were not going to get away with it.

Many of you commented on my last post how horrible I was for doing that. I have a question for all of you: Did you vaccinate your babies at two months old? The nurse or doctor sticks needles into them and causes them pain. They scream and cry. They hate it. You allow them to hurt your baby, because you feel it is what is best for your baby.

Most babies right after they are born are pricked in the heel with a needle. My babies screamed when they did that. It caused pain. The doctors did it to check their blood to see if they were healthy. Is that horrible???

Pain isn't always a bad thing as many of you think it is. One flick on the cheek and my babies never bit me again. They learned VERY quickly that they couldn't get away with that. Several swats on their hand when they were crawling and putting their fingers into a light socket taught them not to do that anymore. It was a quick and easy learning tool for us.

As they got a bit older, a few swats on their bottom taught them that when we told them to do something, they did it. They learned to be obedient pretty much before they were two years old. We had to say things once and they obeyed. It was wonderful!

So pain from a needle, a flick on the cheek, or a swat on the hand or bottom...I don't see any difference. They all cause pain but they are all used for the child's good. If you don't want to discipline your babies and children that way, it is fine with me. Use whatever methods you want, but just make sure you teach them to obey you.

But to act like I abused my children is just plain ridiculous. The proof is in the pudding. My children never went through the terrible twos or were rebellious teenagers. Consistent discipline with unconditional love is a wonderful formula from Scripture on how to raise good children.

Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.

Proverbs 19:18

Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.

Proverbs 29:17

P.S. Someone commented how unhappy my boys looked in the last picture. Here is a recent picture of them. They are very happy and well adjusted despite enduring pain!

Better Mom Mondays

Allowing Children Pain

2012-01-31T18:00:00.001-08:00

Since I didn't give my children drugs when they had a fever, I was a bad mother. Since I gave my children a few whacks on the bottom when they disobeyed me, I was a bad mother. I get it. Some people think that children should never experience pain. The Bible teaches differently ~

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence : shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby .

Hebrews 12:7-11

I allowed my children to suffer at times, because I loved them. Yes, if they broke their arm and were in extreme pain, I would give them Tylenol. If they had a fever, however, I would try to make them as comfortable as possible without trying to bring their fever down, because I knew that the fever is a good thing that kills the sickness in their bodies. {If the fever had ever become dangerously high, I would have given them Tylenol and taken them to the doctor. I am not stupid.}

I often wonder if drugs are such a problem in today's society, because parents gave their children drugs for every little thing when they were growing up. When they grew up they reasoned, "I am in pain. This is a bad thing. I must take away the pain so I must take drugs."

I smacked them on the bottom a few times when they disobeyed me so they would obey me. It worked! When a baby bit me when nursing, I flicked their cheek once. They never bit me again. It worked! Pain is a great teacher.

Many people believe pain and suffering are bad things. They are not. They are teachers that can teach us good things, like obeying authority and allowing our bodies to heal themselves naturally without the side effects of drugs.

God uses pain in our lives to teach us many things ~ to trust in Him, to be more compassionate, to obey Him, to lean on Him and realize that this isn't our home. It helps us to lessen our grip on things of this world.

In conclusion, I was not a bad mother. I chose to mother the way that I did because my common sense and the wisdom I sought from the Lord told me to mother that way. Sure, I made mistakes. We all do, but I wanted my children to grow up as disciplined adults who could handle pain and know that it is part of life.

P.S. Yes, that is a picture of my children when they were small! So if you have small children, enjoy them. They grow up quickly.

Because You Love Him

2012-01-30T18:00:00.001-08:00

A challenge came to me...It is to be entitled Imagine The Impossibilities. A bunch of women are taking the challenge to do something they think is impossible. I was encouraged to write about loving our husbands.

I Corinthians 13 gives the best definition of what loving your husband looks like ~

Love is patient ~ Are you patient with your husband and allowing God to work in his life instead of nagging, manipulating, and controlling him?

Love is kind ~ Are you kind to your husband and treating him better than you treat others?

Love is not jealous ~ Are you jealous of your husband, maybe when he goes golfing with the guys while you are stuck at home? Or do you encourage him and are happy for him when he gets to have fun and do something he enjoys?

Love does not brag and is not arrogant ~ Do you respect your husband's ideas and plans? Do you share your ideas with him in a humble way?

Love does not act unbecomingly ~ Do you put on your best behavior for your husband? This means no pouting, yelling, or silent treatment to get your way.

Loves does not seek its own ~ Do you want your husband's best? Do you seek to please him and make him happy?

Love does not provoke ~ Do you act gently with your husband? Do you allow him his opinions and support them, even if you disagree with them? Do you honor him?

Love does not take into account a wrong suffered ~ Do you hold onto grudges or do you forgive quickly and easily as Christ forgave you?

Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth!

Love bears all things ~ All those habits that you don't like of his and that annoy you, you bear them, because you love him. You put up with his in-laws, friends, and the toilet seat up, because you love him.

Love believes all things ~ You believe the best about him. You know he has faults, but you choose to dwell on his good qualities, because you know everyone has faults and because you love him.

Love hopes all things ~ You hope for the best in him. You praise him even when he isn't worthy of praise, because you love him.

Love endures all things ~ You stay married to him until death do you part. You keep your vows through the good times and the bad, because you love him.

Love never fails ~ Even when you don't "feel" like you love him, you love him because you base your love on a decision and a commitment, not on a feeling.

You love him, because he is your husband and you are commanded by Almighty God to love him. He is a gift from God to you. You want to please and obey your Maker and you know His ways are good.

{pretty, happy, funny, real}, Proverbs 31 Thursdays, Homemakers Challenge, Hearts 4 Home,
Inspiration Friday, Spiritual Sundays, Bless A Blogger, {finer things friday}, Brag On God Friday

The Ideal For Children

2012-01-29T18:00:00.001-08:00

Denise Prager is a radio personality that I enjoy listening to once in awhile, especially on Wednesdays when he has the male/female hour. Recently, he discussed the ideal work situation for a married couple with children. He thinks we owe it to our children to portray to them what is the best for families, not what society says is best.

He believes that a family works best when there is a full time homemaker {ideally, the wife}, and a full time provider {ideally, the husband}....Imagine that! Most women today are taught that they need career satisfaction and should pursue it. But for most women, a career doesn't bring the same satisfaction as it does to a man, he believes.

In order to live this ideal, families need to learn to do with a lot less. The benefits are many when there is someone home full time making a beautiful home life for the family. Being a good homemaker, he says, is as much an effort as a CEO of a company.

When couples have to split all the chores up 50/50, it causes a lot of conflict. Arguing about who does what...who should be up with the baby at night, who carpools the kids today, who vacuums, etc. leads to strife. When the roles are more clearly defined, it lends itself to a much more peaceful home.

I agree with him. I believe the Bible agrees with him and teaches these same principles. Sure there are families who make other arrangements that work well for them or the wife has to work, because the husband is disabled. But he believes there is always a cost to the family when the ideal isn't being implemented. These are critical issues to ponder...

Teach the young women to be...keepers at home.

Titus 2:4,5

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

I Timothy 5:8

P.S. Now isn't that the cutest little grandbaby you have ever seen??? :)

Should Christians Have Fun?

2012-01-28T18:00:00.001-08:00

This young thirteen year old wrote me this recently ~

I am thirteen years old so I don't pretend to know anything about pain, or life or anything much but you mentioned that while you were sick, you didn't have much fun. Now as a kid I love to have fun, but is having fun the world's way of joy? Do Christians need fun?

Christ fills our hearts. He fills us with joy and love. Is fun a worldly way of filling that gap? Nothing against it, just saying we can have joy through pain {we rejoice in our suffering}.

My grandfather died one year ago. He had cancer. He was in pain. He was in the hospital for months. He knew he was dying. Was he having fun? No. Was he at peace? Yes. Did he have JOY? YES! He died at peace on November 13, 2010. It hurts, but I know he is in a better place. A place he will be in forever. I am not saying anything bad about fun, just saying we can be joyful without the world's idea of fun.

So, should Christians have fun?

I am a mother to four children. I have always loved seeing them have fun and enjoy life. I realize it can't be all the time and shouldn't be, because life is hard. They need to work and go through trials to make them strong and lean on the Lord more, but I want them to enjoy life. Is it always possible? No, but I want them to have times of fun and enjoyment.

My heavenly Father loves me and you. I am sure He loves seeing us have fun and enjoying life, but I know He allows trials to make us become more like Him and trust Him more. He has "given us richly all things to enjoy." {I Timothy 6:17}

When I was sick and in pain for 20 years, nothing was fun: eating with friends and family, going out to coffee with a friend, or walking along the beach. Now, since I feel so much better, all those things are fun. I am sure the Lord is happy that I am happy, as long as I am walking in the Spirit and loving others.

He is a gracious God. There are many times in Scripture He commands us to rejoice and He speaks of being happy a lot. No, our goal in life shouldn't be to seek fun, but in loving God and loving others, life will be fun at times. He created us with the ability to laugh and smile.

Being joyful draws others to us and if we can have fun while doing it, great! If not, either way, God will be glorified. He wants joyful children just as I want joyful children. Everything in life that is really fun is from Him...food, sunsets, pets, children, sex, etc. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.

I Kings 10:8

Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed , but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Psalms 127:5

Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

Psalm 144:15

Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.

Psalm 3:13

If you know these things, happy are ye if you do them.

John 13:17

Cold And Flu Prevention

2012-01-27T18:00:00.001-08:00

My children never had cough medicine, a decongestant, or went to the doctor when they had a cold or the flu. When they got a cold or flu, I would give them a lot of fresh lemon and honey water, along with fresh fruit until they felt better. Then I would give them homemade chicken soups with my broth in it that clears congestion.

I never gave them anything to bring down their fever, unless they were absolutely miserable. Fever is the body's way of fighting off the bad bugs. As soon as you feel a sore throat coming on, start gargling every 15 minutes with salt water, even snort it up into your nostrils {not pleasant, but helps a lot}.

The book I went to all the time when my children were young was How To Raise Healthy Children In Spite Of Your Doctor. It was written by a doctor who was a Pediatrician for 30 years. He recommends taking children off all sugar as soon as they get sick. He also gives advice when something is really an emergency like when a fever is too high and you need to take them to the doctor.

I rarely took my children to the doctor...mostly for broken bones and things like that. I believed that their bodies were meant to fight most illnesses and diseases if nourished and taken care of properly.

Every morning, I have a big glass of tea with the juice of a whole lemon in it sweetened with stevia or raw honey. It is a wonderful way to start off the day. It is very alkalizing and cleansing. I always have a huge salad once a day. This provides all the minerals your body needs.

Drugs are great for emergency situations, but they don't heal your body. Your immune system does that. So the key is to keep your immune system strong.

One of my favorite blogs for recipes and health advice is The Nourishing Gourmet. I like her philosophy on health and the recipes I have tried from her blog are great. All of my recipes on my blog are simple with healthy ingredients. That is the way I like to cook and my family likes to eat!

The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.

Proverbs 41:3

Here is a short 2-minute video about vaccinations. Worth the time to watch.
Be educated.

P.S. I have been told to always inform you that I am not a doctor! I have just studied and experienced many health issues. So I teach out of my own experiences and what I have studied.

Pennywise Platter
Fight Back Friday

The Party For Abortion

2012-01-26T18:00:00.001-08:00

The comments I received on my post entitled Conservative, Right Winger unsettled me. Most of the comments disagreed with me on the financial aspect. It is fine if you disagree with me on this aspect of being conservative, but what disturbs me is the pro-abortion platform of the democratic party.

I could never vote for a party that sanctions the killing of babies and even uses our tax dollars to fund this evil practice. I have NO doubt that God will not bless a nation that kills its own. We look back on what Hitler did to the Jews and abhor it, yet this nation has as much, if not more blood on its hands.

How can we think economics is more important than life? Children are a blessing to a nation. All the nations that have stopped having babies are dying. God commanded us to be fruitful and multiply and His commands never go out of style.

So I am just saddened that there are so many people who don't mind voting for a political party that pushes abortion on its people, as if that is somehow the right thing to do. You can see that Satan has blinded their eyes.

Sure, there are some Republicans who are for abortion, but the platform is still pro life. Valuing life is crucial for a healthy society. All else pales in comparison. Let's start speaking up for the innocent and the helpless. Vote for those who value life.

Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8,9

An Abortion Survivor

Women Pastors

2012-01-25T18:00:00.000-08:00

Danielle commented on one of my posts concerning women with children being keepers at home the following ~

So then I guess your stance would be that there shouldn't be any woman pastors, evangelists, missionaries, teachers, prophetesses, etc.? Because all of those roles would be outside of the home? No where in the Bible does it limit those positions/titles to men.

I believe the Bible does limit the role of pastor to men. Read I Timothy carefully and Paul's instruction to the church.

The first thing he writes to the leaders of the church is, "This is a true saying, If a MAN desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work..."

{I Timothy 3:1}.

To bishops he writes, "A bishop then must be blameless, the HUSBAND of one wife..."

{I Timothy 3:2}.

To deacons he writes, "Even so must their wives be grave...Let the deacons be the HUSBANDS of one wife..."

{I Timothy 3:11}.

He also writes concerning order in worship, "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence"

{I Timothy 2:12}.

All throughout the Bible, men are the leaders...Moses, Noah, Abraham, Paul, Jesus, etc. Sure there was Queen Esther, but she was married to a King. God definitely used women in powerful ways to accomplish his goals and puts the same worth upon women as a man, He just gave us different roles.

Most men are stronger physically and emotionally. They don't have to deal with PMS and menopause. God's ways are good. They are for women's protection.

I am sure I will hear from some of you about how wrong I am, but please use Scripture to back up your arguments. That is what I base all of my beliefs upon. I never want to water it down to fit my lifestyle or what society tells me is right. I enjoy hearing other's viewpoints and am always open to learning.

Is Chivalry Dead?

2012-01-24T18:00:00.002-08:00

Yes, I think so. When women start acting like women, men will start acting like men.

There has been a big to do over the cruise ship sinking and men not taking care of the women and children like they did on the Titanic. I blame that on feminism.

I don't recall a time in America's past where women were abused as feminists claim. The "rights" the feminists wanted were to vote and be able to act as men ~ hold the same jobs, wear the same clothes, etc. Women wanted to be like men. They didn't want to stay home and raise babies.

I don't think being home and raising babies is abusive. I'm sorry. I think that it is a wonderful thing.

So feminism has won. Women can be men. They can fight wars, they can have full time careers, they can choose to not marry and have children, they can sleep around, they can drink and smoke, they can be policemen, etc. I don't see this as being a great benefit to society. I know. I am extreme.

So why should men allow women to go onto lifeboats first on a sinking ship? Women have made it known loudly and clearly that they are equal to men in every way. Men believe it and now treat them as their equal.

Women use to act like women. They use to dress femininely, walk and talk like a woman, desire a home with a husband and babies. They wanted a man who would protect them and provide for them.

They don't want that anymore. I do...I like being a woman. I want a man that wants to protect me. I don't want to fight wars and kill robbers. I want to be home and make it warm and happy. I don't like what feminism has done to our country and to our men. It makes me sad...My precious husband would ABSOLUTELY make sure I was on a lifeboat before him.

But let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

I Peter 3:4

Marrying Young

2012-01-23T18:00:00.001-08:00

Are couples getting married later these days or is it just my imagination? My mom said that in her generation, most couples got married out of high school. I got married when I was 22 and a lot of my friends got married shortly after that. Now, couples seem to be in their mid to late twenties when they get married.

I have been reading a magazine written by this man with thirteen children. He calls his family CHQC which stands for Christian, homeschooling, quiverful, courtship. In his magazine he has a quote from Martin Luther from 1522 ~

To sum the matter up: whoever finds himself unsuited in the celibate life should see to it right away that he has something to do and work at; then let him strike out in God's name and get married. A young man should marry at the age of twenty at the latest, a young woman at fifteen to eighteen; that's when they are still in good health and best suited for marriage. Let God worry about how they and their children are to be fed. God makes children; he will surely also feed them.

This man then bemoans the fact that his older children are having trouble finding suitable spouses and he believes it is because they are so isolated in their beliefs. He is trying to figure out a way to get like-minded families together.

I am not so sure that is the problem, however. I know many great kids who went to a Christian high school and to Christian colleges. They attend large, active churches yet they are still unmarried in their mid to late twenties, even early thirties. They are available to meet members of the opposite sex and want to get married.

The problem isn't easy to diagnose or solve. My opinion is that it is all in God's hands. The Bible addresses young, single women this way ~

The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. I Corinthians 7:34

If she is seeking the Lord's will, asking for a godly spouse, then she just must patiently wait upon the Lord and His perfect timing. You can't force a marriage. Either two people are attracted to each other or they are not.

So take heart all you single people out there. Trust God and His timing. Do find ways to serve the Lord and meet people, but don't let your discouragement pull you down. Continue to Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.

Psalm 100:2

P.S. It looks like I, along with my daughters and daughter-in-law, are going to have to seriously think and pray about having week long seminars out here in sunny San Diego teaching women all about getting their Mrs. Degree! Thank you for all your enthusiastic comments. Ken is all for it! :)

Apply For An MRS. Degree!

2012-01-22T18:00:00.002-08:00

The discussion on Girls Going To College was very lively! I commented that it is sad that universities do nothing to prepare women for the roles of being a wife and mother. One women responded that they shouldn't do that.

Why not? They teach them everything else...So I was telling Cassi this and she said we need to start our own school for young women who would love to prepare for their MRS. degree.

Cassi will teach them how to grind their own wheat, make bread and other healthy baked goods. She makes incredible healthy peanut butter cups. She's great at math and computers so she can help women learn how to balance check books and make their own web sites. She loves crafts so she can teach them fun crafts for their children.

Erin can teach them all about flowers and writing. She can teach them how to sew, decorate their home, and shop organically on a budget. She majored in biology so she'll show them science experiments to do with their children. They can learn about pregnancy and what to expect. She'll teach about babies and how to keep them healthy and happy. She can encourage them to truly love their husbands in the first year of marriage and beyond.

Alyssa can teach them how to dance and stay in shape. She can explain their new lives in Christ. Both she and Erin can give lots of tips on planning weddings, but mostly preparing for marriage. They can both teach how to let their husbands lead and how to make them happy. They will both explain how wonderful marriage can be and encourage them to marry a believer who God has picked out for them. Most importantly, how to cover their relationship with prayer.

I can teach them God's Word and what it says about submission, modesty, purity, and who they are in Christ. I will show them how to eat well and cook healthy meals. I can explain to them how to raise children and discipline methods that worked for us. I can encourage them to cultivate contentment and being joyful even in the midst of trials.

So, what do you think? Do you have any daughters you would like to sign up??? :)

That they may teach the young 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.

Titus 2:4,5

Fifty Cents For Your Integrity

2012-01-21T18:00:00.000-08:00

Nancy, a good friend of mine, was telling me about going to the movies when she was young. It cost a dollar to get in unless you were under twelve years old. Then it only cost fifty cents. When Nancy was twelve, she went to the movies. A friend encouraged her mother to say that Nancy was under twelve, because she always looked younger than her age.

Her mother looked at that friend and said, "You would sell your integrity for fifty cents?" Nancy told me that her parents always believed in and modeled honesty and integrity in the little things as well as the big things.

What are you willing to sell your integrity for?

A few thousand dollars on your taxes?

Making out with your boyfriend and going way too far, thus making out with someone else's husband?

Keeping the few cents that the cashier undercharged you?

Telling your boss you need a day off because you are sick but you really aren't?

Telling your husband something cost $100 when it really cost $126?

Work on your integrity in every area of your life. Be excellent in whatever you do. Obey the laws of the government. Treat everyone with kindness and respect. Don't rob the workers of their due. Tip waiters generously. Remember, you reap what you sow!

How much are you willing to sell your integrity for?

Better is the poor that walks in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

Proverbs 19:1

For whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

I Peter 3:10-12

Keep Your Home Unpolluted

2012-01-20T18:00:00.000-08:00

There never has been a time when there was a greater need for Keepers of the Springs {mothers at home}, or when there were more polluted springs to be cleansed. If the home fails, the country is doomed.

The breakdown of homelife and influence will mark the breakdown of the nation. If the Keepers of the Springs desert their posts or are unfaithful to their responsibilities, the future outlook of this country is black, indeed.

This generation needs Keepers of the Springs who will be courageous enough to cleanse the springs that have been polluted. It is not an easy task--nor is it a popular one, but it must be done for the sake of the children, and the young women of today must do it.

I believe women come nearer fulfilling their God-given function in the home than anywhere else. It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife than to be Miss America.

It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second-rate novel filled with filth. It is a far, far better thing in the realm of morals to be old-fashioned than to be ultramodern.

The world has enough women who know how to hold their cocktails, who have lost all their illusions and their faith. The world has enough women who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple.

The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need woman, and men, too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct.

I encourage you to read the whole thing here written by Peter Marshall, a US Senate Chaplain, from 1946-1948. It exalts the high value of wives and mothers that Christianity ushered in, but modern society and feminism are trying to destroy. LOVED this!

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Titus 2:5

Thankful for ~

My home to take care of
God is still in control
A husband that loves me
Children who walk with Jesus
Beautiful praise music
Clean and pure entertainment
Living for Jesus!

Are You Constipated?

2012-01-19T18:00:00.000-08:00

My mom always told us that disease started in the colon. She wasn't a doctor, my dad was, but she seemed to know way more about the human body's ability to heal itself than my dad did. He did admit that medical school only gave one week of instruction on nutrition. I think that is a complete shame!

Why would disease start in the colon? I believe it is because all of your waste resides in the colon and if it isn't cleaned out on a regular basis, it starts to putrefy and cause all sorts of problems. Doesn't that make sense to you? I try and live my life by knowing wisdom from God and good old common sense.

The best way to not get constipated is by eating a lot of raw foods and drinking a lot of water. Dairy products are known for constipating people. Stop eating food that comes in a box or can. Stop eating fast food. Know where your food comes from. Take the time to clean and chop up fruits and vegetables. Exercise is very important, also, even if it is just walking a half an hour a day.

If you have trouble in the constipation area even after doing all of those things, I have found the best thing is to take one of these each night after dinner. They are made of all herbs and work wonderfully. All of his products are very good and I have learned a lot from him. This product works great also!

So don't allow disease to take over your body. Do everything in your power to stay healthy. Being healthy and feeling good is a very good thing!

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

I Corinthians 6:19,20

Girls Going To College

2012-01-18T18:00:00.002-08:00

When I went to Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California in 1976, it cost $3500 for everything...room, board, and tuition. I just looked on their website and for this upcoming year, it will cost almost $50,000. This seems absolutely ridiculous to me.

Most kids coming out of college have such a heavy mountain of debt. Debt is not a good thing. The Bible warns about having debt.

My best friend was able to put herself through Westmont by working in the summers and a little bit during the school year. There is no way a student could pay their way through Westmont now.

Most Christian parents want to put their children into Christian colleges, because of the humanism that pervades the public universities. Dennis Prager thinks kids should remain drunk throughout college if they go to public universities because they teach such bad things. It would be better for them to stay drunk then turn completely away from God's truth in his opinion.

Dr. Brian Abshire wrote this ~ We do not need more female Christian lawyers, doctors or artists, but more godly women raising more godly children who will fill the earth and subdue it to the glory of God. And does it really make economic sense to invest tens of thousands of dollars for a woman to get an advanced education {often having to go into debt to finance that education} that she will not use if she accepts that her highest calling is to be a wife and mother?

Words to ponder. Instead of Christians taking the admonition to be fruitful and multiply, other cultures who believe in having large families are about to take over Europe, Japan, and the United States in the coming century through immigration.

So teach your sons to be strong and self-governed who will work diligently to provide for their families and be good leaders. Teach your daughters to rejoice in their duties as wives and mothers.

Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.
Jeremiah 29:6

She Got A New Car

2012-01-17T18:00:00.002-08:00

She drives in a crazy place. There are a ton of cars...big cars. They are mean drivers. I went up there awhile ago and was honked at several times! He didn't like her driving in her old, little car. He didn't feel like she was safe enough.

He feels much better now. They knew it would be hard to afford. They did a lot of research on what car is really safe and one they could afford. He works really hard and loves to spoil her. She loves being spoiled!

She called and told me all about it. It has a sun roof, a blue tooth {?}, and other nice things. I told her she is spoiled. She said that she knows and we both laughed.

I hung up and thought how happy I am that she is happy. I love seeing her get nice things. I love seeing her so madly in love with her husband and her husband in love with her.

I can't believe God is any different. He must love seeing us happy...happily married, enjoying all the good things He's blessed us with. Sure, life is hard and we go through difficult times. My children have all had their share of hard times. It's hard on me, but I know God will work it out for good. He always does.

The hard times have caused them to cling to Him more tightly. They all walk with Him. That makes me the happiest.

Jon is a wise man. He seeks God and His will. I trust him to make the right decisions and take good care of my daughter. What can be better than that?

Oh yeah, Jon wanted to make sure that whenever I write about them to make sure you all knew it is because Christ lives in and through him that he can live the life he leads and have the marriage that he has been given. Jesus and only Jesus! He wants God to get all the glory.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

3 John 2,4

What Pastors Won't Preach

2012-01-16T18:00:00.001-08:00

Imagine what a real Christian pastor, instead of a feminist would say to these women. I’m guessing it would go something like:

Are you squandering your youth and fertility chasing the feminist goals of career and casual sex? Are you making yourself less marriageable by not keeping your virginity? For those who are married, are you refusing to submit to your husband as the bible commands?

If anyone here knows an actual Christian pastor who is serious about biblical marriage and not a feminist wrapped in faux Christianity, please let me know and we can ask him what he would say.

These are quotes from a male's blog. He is tired of pastors putting all the blame of failed marriages on men. He thinks feminism is the major reason for the break down of the family and I wholeheartedly agree.

I have seen it for myself. I have been mentoring women for over eight years and when they truly know what submission looks like and decide to submit, the marriage turns around almost immediately. Not always, but most of the time.

I have always loved Jesus. His Spirit has always worked in me, but I was far from being a submissive wife until an older woman taught me what it looked like. I finally saw clearly all of my sin in our marriage. Since I have learned submission, my marriage has become a beautiful thing. We CAN win them without a word.

I am VERY saddened how few pastors teach on submission. They always bring up the verse about submitting to each other. That verse is addressed to the church at large. One verse. Right after that verse, Paul teaches that women are to submit to their husbands. At least five other places in scripture say the same thing. The Bible doesn't say "adapt to" or "be friends", etc. It says Wives are to submit to their husbands.

Submission is a beautiful thing. It takes a strong woman to submit. Being his help meet is a beautiful thing. The more I learn to submit, the happier we both have become. Since most pastors have dropped the ball on this one, I am going to keep teaching it as loudly and clearly as I can as long as I have breath, because God's ways work.

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the savior of the body.Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything...Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Ephesians 5:21-24,33

Teenage Depression

2012-01-15T18:00:00.002-08:00

Dr. Archibald Hart predicts that 100 per cent of teenagers will be on anti-depressants in ten years. He said that 30 years ago, when he became a clinical psychologist, the onset of depression in people who were going to battle with depression began around 45 years old. Today, the average onset is 14 years old and one in four teenagers are depressed!

He attributes this sky rocketing cause of depression to STRESS. Stress causes your body to pump out excess amounts of cortisol which shrinks the ability of the brain to learn. It also causes an inability to sleep which is vital for good health. It will then lead to irritability. It also blocks the part of your brain that allows one to feel a sense of peace. When they no longer have the ability to feel peace or to learn, they fall into deep depression.

When they sink into depression, they are usually put on antidepressants or other drugs in hopes of lowering cortisol levels in their bodies so they can start learning and feeling a sense of peace again. The problem with drugs is they often don't work and exasperate the problem. The side effects can be devastating.

No, I am not a doctor or psychologists, but common sense tells me our children are TOO busy! TOO much is expected from them. I never had to study in high school. I didn't study one minute for the SAT tests. College didn't cost an arm and a leg. Sports didn't control us. We had free time to relax and enjoy life.

My advice is to SLOW DOWN! Monitor your children's activities. Make sure they work hard and do everything to the best of their abilities, but let them have down time to relax ~ reading, playing games, enjoying outdoors, not hours of television and computer time.

I would also make sure their diet is healthy with good fats, healthy proteins, lots of organic fruits and vegetables, and fish oils which are crucial for a healthy brain. They need fresh air and sunshine. They need a good eight to ten hours of sleep a night, not five hours of homework. They need exercise.

Be armed with truth and ready for the battle. Don't let your children become a statistic!

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Hosea 4:6

Never Give Up!

2012-01-14T18:00:00.002-08:00

Our pastor believed in Jesus as His Savior when he was 18 years old. He said he came from a line of horse thieves! He went to a Christian college and grew in his faith eventually becoming a pastor. {His two sons are known as the band Switchfoot.}

Today, his whole family is saved ~ his parents, his siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and his sons sing for Jesus. It just took one member of the family to believe in Jesus and this lead to many coming to faith in Him.

This is what I think it means that a believing wife sanctifies her family. When you walk in obedience to God and live in His power, His presence works mightily through you to influence those around you.

This is a comment someone left on one of my previous posts ~

I have a good friend who lived in a very difficult marriage for many years. Her husband even told her that they should have never gotten married. However, my friend who is a Christian, surrendered her marriage to the Lord.

She daily prayed for her husband and always treated him with respect. Well, guess what? God answered her prayers! After 15 years, her husband surrendered his life to the Lord, asked for forgiveness and became a Christian.

He attributes his salvation to the constant prayers of his wife and her Christ-like behavior to him when he didn't deserve it. Now, this wonderful couple are celebrating 26 years of marriage. They are filled with joy at what the Lord has done in and through their testimony. God is so good!

Never, never, never give up! He hears the prayers of the righteous and He is good, oh so good.

What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Mark 11:24

Thankful for ~

God's longsuffering
My church and it's happiness
The warmth of the women in my church
Solid Bible teaching
Outreach programs to the lost
We are the locker room
The playing field is the world

Living Loved

2012-01-13T18:00:00.002-08:00

His Love is the only thing that changes any of us and living loved — wouldn’t this change everything?

Ann Voskamp

Loving someone changes people, not nagging, complaining, or manipulating them ~

When your husband confesses another sin to you, loving him anyways makes him want to change.

When you aren't invited to a party and feel left out, loving them anyways makes them drawn to you.

When your teenager is grumpy and depressed, loving them instead of scolding them helps them change.

Yes, we all want to be loved but I have found the way to be loved is to love deeply, from the heart. Accept others failures and weaknesses. Pray for them. Encourage them with God's Word.

Many husbands are trapped in the vicious cycle of pornography. It hurts. It is a sin against the wives. I hear the pain in your emails to me. Yes, it is alright to cry about it, but then let it go. Give it to God. Love your husbands anyways, because this is what you are commanded to do. Make sure your heart is right with God.

Read I John every day this week if you can and meditate upon it. It is all about love. If we don't love others, we don't love God. The "others" in that verse includes your husbands, your teenagers, your cranky in-laws, your loud neighbors, and your boss.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

I John 4;7,20

Remember, you are loved by an almighty God!

The Body's Need For Salt

2012-01-12T18:00:00.002-08:00

Sodium is given a very bad rap these days. If you are talking about regular salt in the grocery store, yes, it is bad. It has taken salt the way God has made it and processed it to death. Instead of making your body healthier, it makes it sicker. Everything that is highly processed is not good for your body.

When I was in the emergency room dying from a brain tumor, my sodium levels were 115 instead of 135 to 145. I should have been dead with those levels. Your body needs salt to live. For the next three weeks, while I was waiting for brain surgery, I had to consume two tablespoons of salt a day and drink very little water to stay alive. It was very difficult.

Dr. Marshall was the one who educated me on the need for good, air-dried sea salt, just the way God made it. Not processed in any way. Here are the benefits to consuming one teaspoon a day ~

Boosts the adrenal glands

Helps cure eczema

Increases stomach acid which helps digest food

Cures colic in babies when mom takes the salt

Helps with juvenile arthritis

Cures nasal congestion

These are just a few of the ways Dr. Marshall teaches that salt is good for you. Since good health starts with good digestion, it is very important to make sure you are digesting your food well. He said the the single, most important thing you can do for digestion is take HCL with every meal. Also, salting your food with good, air dried sea salt helps create HCL.

I buy the pink salt from Dr. Marshall. It is fabulous. You can also get air dried sea salt at health food stores. Just read the label carefully and make SURE it is air dried and not processed in any way.

Okay, this may sound foreign to many of you. All you hear is how bad salt is and regular, table salt is bad for you. But look at what God says about salt!!! Every reference to it in the Bible is GOOD!!! I believe salt the way God created it is good. I eat a lot of it and am never bloated and I have low blood pressure. So there! :)

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltiness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Mark 9:50

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.

Colossians 4:6

It is the 2nd anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti,
I am asking you to pray for Haiti. People are still in danger,
living in tents, and in need of medical and emotional help.

Be His Private Garden

2012-01-11T18:00:00.001-08:00

A chaste woman is a modest woman. God speaks of a woman maintaining her chastity and purity by the clothes she wears. She needs to be her husband's private garden, not a public park.

'In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel...which becomes women professing godliness.'
I Timothy 2:9-10

God says a woman's apparel should profess godliness...It is impossible for a woman to understand a man's visual drive. She can only believe what an honest and candid man tells her, but few men are willing to admit to their weakness..dress as you would dress for the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Debi Pearl

Years ago, we had our sons read Every Young Man's Battle. We wanted them to be prepared to handle their powerful sex drive in a godly way. We wanted them to flee sexual temptation and pornography. We wanted them to know how damaging it is to men and families. We wanted them to be prepared for battle.

One friend of mine read this book and made the comment to me, "This book makes it sound like all men are perverts." Most men are not perverts. God made them with a strong sex drive that enjoys the female body. He probably made it that way, so we would keep having sweet babies!

My husband has been very honest with me about men's visual attraction. He has told me at times things I couldn't wear and I obeyed him. Men are turned on by seeing women's flesh, the more the better. We, as godly women, must understand this and teach this to our daughters. Therefore, I taught my daughters that bikinis and tight skirts and shorts are immodest. Any honest, heterosexual man will admit to that being true.

True godly men want a modest wife. They don't want a wife that dresses immodestly and causes other men to lust after. Teach and encourage your daughters to dress modestly. It is pleasing to the Lord and pleasing Him is a wonderful thing.

Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

Proverbs 11:22

Modest Monday

She Loved Her Son

2012-01-10T18:00:00.004-08:00

She loved her son...She lost her son...She is grieving.

During puberty, he started pulling away. He started becoming melancholy and withdrawn. They did everything they could to help him. He was crying out for help. He wanted healing. They wanted healing. They prayed for healing. When I started a bible study group in her home eight years ago, we were praying for him. He died right before Christmas. God healed him, but not the way she would have liked. His ways aren't our ways. It hurts...

We went and saw her. It's been over a month now. I asked her how she was doing. She clung to me and wept and said not very good. Everyone who came to visit, she clung to and wept. She misses her son. She loved him.

Heaven is very real to her now. She knows she will see him again someday. She knows she gets to spend eternity with him, but she misses him so much that she is in physical pain. The whole family is in pain.

She just wants to talk about him. If anyone had a story about him, she wanted to hear it. Someone sent her a poem. We read it and all wept. She needs to talk about him. She never wants to forget him. She loved him.

We can't understand her pain, because we haven't been there. It is a place none of us ever wants to go. Charles Spurgeon talked about dying grace in a devotional the other day. She has God's dying grace upon her through this difficult time. He is holding her in the palm of His hand. He loves her and He loves her son.

She will get through this. God's people will help her get through. They will hold her and cry with her. They will reminisce with her about her son's short life. They will be God's hands and feet to her. Thank you, Jesus, for paying the penalty for our sin, so that she gets to see her son again someday. We love you, Lord. You are our Redeemer.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:1

Here is his obituary ~
John Peyton Mossy

Well Loved Husbands

2012-01-09T18:00:00.001-08:00

Would you say that your husband feels well loved?

Do you study him to find out what pleases him?

Do you know what makes him happy?

Do you fix him food that he enjoys?

Do you satisfy his sexual needs?

Does he know that you want good for him and not evil?

That you have his best interests at heart?

That he is a priority to you over your children?

Do you make time for him?

Do you do the things he asks you to do?

Do you spend the money wisely?

Do you keep his home clean and organized {at least as much as you can if you have a lot of children in the home}?

Does he feel like he is head of the home?

God commands wives to love their husbands. As you love and serve your husband, you are loving and serving Jesus. So I encourage you to make sure your husband knows he is well loved. This just may lead to a heavenly marriage.

Encourage the young women to love their husbands.

Titus 2:4

Thriving In A Difficult Marriage

2012-01-08T18:00:00.001-08:00

Is happiness the purpose of marriage? If it is, that explains why the divorce rate is so high. I believe God has a different purpose for marriage. It is to become more like Jesus. Unhappiness is not the basis for ending a marriage.

One women recommended I read Thriving Despite a Difficult Marriage by Michael and Chuck Misza. It is a great book to any of you who are married to difficult spouses that don't seem to be responding to you even as you try to be a godly wife.

They encourage you to keep a good eye on your heart. Do not let it become bitter or hateful towards your husband if he is not the husband that you expected him to be. The cancer of the heart is not the pain of loneliness and hurt as much as it is the strident energies of "bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred" {Ephesians 4:31}

God does not promise a lifetime of ongoing happiness but a life of peace, contentment, joy, fulfillment, and many other things - but not perpetual happiness. Learning to respond to marital difficulties with strength and courage can provide satisfaction even if your spouse will not embrace your love. Many people have never considered that life can be satisfying even if their marriage is difficult.

The key to thriving despite a difficult marriage is developing wisdom and maintaining a conviction that marriage is worth giving yourself to no matter the cost. You need to learn how to love and endure when you receive little in return.

You are on the right path when you understand that the true problem that needs to be addressed doesn't concern the defects in your spouse but rather the darkness that emerges from your own heart while in a difficult marriage.

Your hope is that God will give you the wisdom, courage, and strength to defeat the Enemy's attempts to corrupt your heart so you can remain alive and passionate. With a thriving heart you will be able to live vibrantly and allow God to offer a powerful love through you to whomever he puts in your path, especially your spouse. The result is that God will be honored and life will be immensely fulfilling.

If any of this resonates with you, I encourage you to read this book. I will probably be doing more posts on this since I have only covered the first chapter so far!

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and criticizes not; and it shall be given him.

James 1:5

On Your Heart Tuesday

Our Temporary Home

2012-01-07T18:00:00.001-08:00

Did you know that everything is going to be burned up someday? I have never been very sentimental and I think that is why. I know that it's all going to burn. The only things that are eternal are human beings. That is why children {like my daughters!} are such a huge blessing and a gift from God. They last forever!

Contemplate these verses for a moment ~

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. II Peter 3:10

These verses let us know what is going to happen to this earth someday. The next verse explains to us how we then should live our lives ~

Seeing then that ALL these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation {living} and godliness.

II Peter 3:11

We are called to holy living and godliness. How can we, human beings, expect to live up to those standards? Easy. Christ living through us. The moment we believe, He comes to live inside of us and powerfully works through us. Amazing!

We can live in hopeful expectation because of what God has prepared for those who love Him ~

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

II Peter 3:13

Awwww...a new heaven and new earth with only goodness and purity. The way that God originally intended for it to be created just for us. There will be no more sickness or suffering or death. Just love and peace and beauty. This future life is worth living for right now. Don't you think?

What A Wonderful Life!

2012-01-06T18:00:00.002-08:00

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy,

and drink thy wine with a merry heart;

for God now accepts thy works.

Let thy garments be always white {clothed with Christ}

and let thy head lack no ointment {filled with the Holy Spirit}.

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou loves all the days of the life of thy vanity,

which He has given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity;

for that is thy portion in this life, and in they labor which thou takes under the sun.

Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with thy might.

Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

I absolutely LOVE these verses! For those who think God doesn't want us to enjoy life, these verses smash that theory to pieces. He wants us to eat with joy, drink wine with a merry heart, live joyfully with our spouses, and work hard at whatever we do. Maybe the saying "work hard then play hard" is smiled upon by our loving Father.

Everything good {food, wine, spouse, work} is given to us from the hands of God and He is so good. It is so hard to imagine that He has given us all these good things when we deserve none of it. And to think that heaven is going to be better than any of these things...Ponder that!

Oh, the gifts and blessings from God. I do like Ann Voskamp's idea of writing down your blessings everyday. Even in the 20 years of pain that I endured, I had so many blessings in my life. We will all experience pain and suffering in this life, but life is much richer if we focus and meditate upon our blessings.

A Cure For Acid Reflux Or Heartburn

2012-01-06T07:24:00.000-08:00

After my brain surgery, I had acid reflux and heartburn so severe that I was in constant burning pain. I went on drugs that stop stomach acid for many months but it didn't help at all. I tried changing my diet, eating small meals, having my bed elevated, everything we could think of to try and get well.

Nothing worked until I listened to Dr. Marshall. He said that acid reflux and heartburn are caused by too little stomach acid, not too much. He said no one has too much stomach acid. The reason you get that burning pain is because your food isn't digesting well and is rotting in your intestines. This creates lactic acid which pushes up into your stomach and esophagus and burns like stomach acid.

The way I got better was to take hydrochloric acid and digest pills after every meal. I also started eating a lot of kefir (organic, whole yogurt is good also).

So if you are having lots of gut problems, I would suggest getting HCL, digest, and eating kefir. I get my HCL and digest from Healthline because it has worked so well for me. Also, make sure you are eating good, air-dried sea salt. The sea salt helps produce stomach acid which we NEED...Hello...to digest food.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

III John 3

The Power Of Raw Food

2012-01-05T18:00:00.004-08:00

A study proved that smokers who ate a lot of raw foods have clear lungs. A doctor told a patient who had cancer that eating a lot of raw foods has the same power to heal as radiation does without the side effects. The cancer society says you should have many servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

God must know what He is doing. He is the one who created raw food. It is full of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Many diseases have been cured by living on a lot of raw foods. It makes for a stronger immune system which fights disease.

My mom always fed us a lot of fruits and vegetables way before it was in style. She drove 1/2 hour each way to an organic store to get cases of apples, oranges, and vegetables. She knew the power of raw foods way back then. It cured her of her colitis. The doctors say there is no cure. Drugs and surgery can't cure colitis, but raw foods can cure it.

All of my children like fruits and vegetables because they were raised eating a lot of them. Raise them to eat healthy and when they are grown up, they will eat healthy. Raise them to eat lots of junk food and when they are grown up, they will eat a lot of junk food.

My children weren't allowed to be picky eaters. Cassi would literally sit at the table every night for hours until she ate her salad. Now at 22 years old, she has a huge salad every day because she loves it. My children would have starved to death if they didn't like healthy food!

I was just watching the Today Show with Hoda and Kathie Lee and they interviewed a lady that was diagnosed with MS and didn't want to go the medical route. She went on all raw foods, herbs, exercise, and is feeling wonderful! That is a testimony to the power of raw foods.

Start getting as much raw food into your diet as possible. It is one of the most important things you can do to fight cancer and other diseases. We all have cancer cells in our body but a healthy body keeps them under control.

Here is a blog dedicated to finding natural solutions to whatever ails you. It is better to allow your body to heal itself with good foods and herbs before trying drugs and surgery. There is definitely a place for those things, but usually they have little success in chronic conditions.

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Genesis 1:29

A Sex Starved Husband

2012-01-04T18:00:00.003-08:00

There was a post I was reading about husbands that were starving for sex from their wives. The first comment from a male was the most eye opening part of the whole post. I have published it in its entirety for you to read because I think it is very important for women to know how men think ~

I am a husband who endured a nearly sexless marriage for 15 years. I can relate to every husband whom you quoted. I wanted desperately to be intimate with my wife more often….but got the cold shoulder over and over again.

In the beginning, I just thought it was normal….but after a few years of marriage I began to realize that my need for sex and intimacy was not being met in a meaningful way. I tried to encourage an atmosphere of love…..I did my best to meet all of her needs emotionally, spiritually and physically in a non sexual way…..to no avail.

I hinted and prodded……still….nothing more than once a month at best. I was left feeling inadequate all the time…..when we would have sex…..I could not last very long because we had sex so little that the excitement was overwhelming when we would. So when we would have sex it would really only last for a minute or two and I would feel guilty.

Then it seemed that she wanted it less and less until at one point we were having sex maybe once every three months or longer. This drove me to look at soft porn and that of course led to more main stream porn…..I hated it and I hated my wife for not being there for our marriage.

I wanted out but knew divorce was not God's way…..I also knew porn was not God's way either……I felt trapped….caught in this endless spiral of no sex with the woman I loved and the horrible trap of porn.

Some time in our 15th year of marriage, I began scouring the Internet to find out what other Christians had to say about “Sex in Christian Marriage” and I was shocked to find many websites like yours talking about the very things I was feeling. This gave me a feeling that God was hearing my cries.

Every time I would look at porn I would be left feeling empty and I would pray for His forgiveness……all I wanted was a wife that desired me and wanted to have sex with me and be intimate. God met those prayers……and slowly I gained confidence to confront my wife and encourage her to read some of these web sites. She did reluctantly.

I bought eBooks written by Christian authors that addressed these issues and when she would ask what I was reading, I would put the eBook on her iPhone for her to read. She slowly began to focus on what was going on and began to read the things I was reading.

God drew me to a place where I felt that I needed to confess my sin of porn to her and at that moment, she realized what she had been doing all along. The road from that moment has not been perfect…..but it has been a road of healing…..healing takes time and can only be done by God.

Today our marriage is much different. Sex occurs multiple times a week and our relationship has strengthened through God's Love. I would encourage all who are suffering in a sexless or near sexless marriage to put in the effort to bring about change……you may find it was the best thing you ever did :).

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for you incontinency {lack of sexual restraint}.

I Corinthians 7:5

Render Due Benevolence

2012-01-03T18:00:00.002-08:00

What does that mean "render due benevolence?" If you take it in context from the following Bible verses, I think it means to give sex to your husband a lot...

It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife has not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband has not power of his own body, but the wife.

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

I Corinthians 7:1-5

Important verses...verses I think are ignored in today's culture...Marriage was designed by God to have a man and a woman become one flesh. Once they get married, they no longer have control over their own bodies. I have known many women who defraud their husbands of their bodies. They give them sex once a week or less.

Mark Driscoll taught in his Peasant Princess series that most men would like to have sex every day...That is a lot for a woman, especially if she is pregnant, nursing, and raising children. I want to challenge you to think of pleasing your husband in this way differently. It only needs to take ten minutes and it makes your husband really happy!

We need to stop thinking of it as a chore and start thinking of it as making the most important person in your life happy. Waking up in the middle of the night to feed your baby is not that difficult, because you want to make your baby happy. Attitude is everything!

According to these verses, God seems to know how important a satisfying sexual relationship is in a marriage. If you deprive each other, it can lead to harm. If men aren't getting it from their wives, they may go elsewhere. They have a physical need for sex that most women don't understand, but God does and that is why He gave this instruction to us. We need to believe it and obey it!

So as an older woman to you younger women and not so young, keep your husbands happy in this area, women! Happy husbands make happy marriages! Go back to the simplicity that is in Christ {2 Corinthians 11:3}. That means to take Scripture at face value, believe it to be true, and obey it. Simple as that...and then reap the rewards of doing things God's ways.

Counter Cultural Dating

2012-01-02T18:00:00.002-08:00

It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. I Corinthians 7:1,2

Treat...younger women like sisters, with absolute purity.

I Timothy 5:2

The Bible never talks about dating or girlfriends or boyfriends. There are two ways men and women should relate to each other...in marriage or as brothers and sisters. Our society has messed that up! Today, teenagers date to try each other out with no purpose but to satisfy themselves.

I was listening to Pastor Phil Ballard from Mars Hill preach on this subject. He contrasted cultural dating with counter cultural dating.

The point in cultural dating is to sin or there is no point. The point in counter cultural dating is marriage. I always encouraged my children to wait until they were ready to get married, than date for the purpose of figuring out if their date is someone they wanted to marry. Ryan was my only child that had a girlfriend in high school and I was constantly asking him if he was treating her as a sister with absolute purity. So if your children want to date in high school, keep them accountable by asking them that question often.

The goal in cultural dating is happiness, while the goal in counter cultural dating is holiness. Looking back on my dating years, nothing beneficial came out of it. Broken hearts, hurt emotions, NOT treating like brothers and sisters, etc. It was not relationships that glorified God.

The bond in cultural dating is physical attraction which is fleeting. The bond in counter cultural dating is knowing each other as a person and building a committed friendship that respects and honors one another. From my own experience, within marriage is the only place one can truly feel secure in giving one's heart to someone else. Commitment is a beautiful thing! God instituted marriage for a good reason. There is no guilt, no fear of losing the relationship, and peace knowing it is forever!

The foundation of cultural dating is feelings while the foundation of counter cultural dating is Jesus! Feelings come and go. Love is commitment. When Jesus is your foundation, you are building on solid ground. When feelings are your foundation, you are building a relationship on shaky ground. Be prepared to get your heart broken or break someone else's heart.

Encourage your children in counter cultural dating. Either treat the opposite sex as a brother or sister in Christ, highly valued by God, or date on the path to marriage. Stop fooling around with other people's emotions and thinking how to please yourself. God's ways are best and they work!

The Road To Divorce

2012-01-01T18:00:00.002-08:00

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:31,32

I believe divorce begins with bitterness. This is why the Bibles wisely advises against bitterness taking any root in your life ~

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Hebrews 12:15

According to Ephesians, bitterness starts by becoming angry and upset with your husband because of something he is doing or not doing. It can be small like watching too much television or putting his dirty clothes on the floor. It could be something big like looking at pornography or never showing love to you.

Then you start getting angry and letting him know how you feel by pouting, giving him the silent treatment, or yelling at him. You begin arguing and fighting all the time.

This then leads to evil speaking about him to anyone who will listen. You ask for prayer at Bible Study and tell all the women the details about how horrible your husband is acting. Then malice begins. He hurt you so you start hurting him. It is payback time. You start withholding sex or not talking to him at all.

You end up in as much sin as your husband by responding to the hurt he is causing you with bitterness. This bitterness ends up defiling your marriage, your children, and your home as the verse in Hebrews states.

My advice to you when your husband is doing something you don't like or is just plain wrong, discuss it with him several times then leave it in God's hands. Start practicing Ephesians 4: 32. Be kind to him. Be tenderhearted towards him. Forgive him as Christ forgave you. Win him without a word. Heap coals upon his head.

Let God convict him and change him. Your chance of getting divorced if you practice this instead of bitterness is much less. God's ways work.

Smile At The Future

2011-12-31T16:55:00.000-08:00

Strength and dignity are her clothing. And she smiles at the future.

Proverbs 31:25

Tomorrow is the beginning of a whole new year. We have no idea what it holds. Only God knows and we must trust Him with our future.

Proverbs tells us that a wise woman smiles at the future ~

She doesn't fear bad news, because she knows that God is on His throne and He is a good God.

She is thankful for the many blessings that she has received and is generous with what she has been given.

She doesn't fret and worry for her children, but trains them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

She doesn't worry about getting old, because she knows this is God's perfect plan for her.

She believes the best and hopes the best for her children and husband, because she has put them in His hands.

She doesn't worry about famine and future events, because she knows that God is her provider.

So as this new year begins, thank God for His many blessings. Learn to truly love those around you. Smile and laugh a lot. Hug your family and friends often. Enjoy happy times around the dinner table. Speak words of kindness to others. Trust God and His promises. Believe who you are in Christ. Smile at the future!

Happy New Year!!!

Peaceful Family Gatherings

2011-12-30T18:00:00.002-08:00

My whole family meets on Christmas morning at my mom and dad's home. My two sisters with their families come. We have a wonderful brunch and then gather in the living room to share our favorite events of the year and then a gift exchange.

My immediate family {pictured above} is together Christmas Eve, Christmas Day for a long hike, and Christmas night also. We laugh, eat, and fellowship. There is not one cross word exchanged. Oh, believe me, there have been in the past. However, we have all decided to be at peace with one another and love each other. That is what we are called to do and it makes life so much more pleasant.

So, I encourage you to go love those unlovable relatives. Start heaping burning coals upon their head. Win them with love and kindness. Life is too short to make any body's life miserable. Treat everyone the way you want to be treated. Walk as Jesus walked. It is a very good thing.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Romans 12:18

Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. Proverbs 17:1

Complete In Him

2011-12-29T18:00:00.003-08:00

Did you know you are complete in Him?

If you are single, you don't need a husband to be complete.

If you are married without children, you don't need children to be complete.

If you are married, your husband doesn't make you complete.

Christ has made you complete. Period!

Your past no longer needs to define who you are today ~

If you were abused in your past, your past is dead and buried {For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3}.

If you messed up in your youth, you are a new creature in Christ today {Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17}.

If you had rotten parents, God is your Father now and can restore the years the locusts have eaten {Joel 2:25}.

Joy and peace come from knowing who you are in Christ and believing it. Don't listen to the lies that society or others say about you.

Believe what God says about you ~

You are a new creation.

You are complete in Him {Colossians 2:10}.

You are loved by a mighty God.

You are His child.

You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you {Philippians 4:13}.

All things work together for good to them that love Him and are called according to His purposes {Romans 8:28}

So many promises. So much goodness.

Dwell on this. Study God's Word. Understand what He has done for you. Start walking in the Spirit and stop fulfilling the desires of the flesh. Renew your mind with God's truths. They are life. They are power. He is good. He is holy and my daughter-in-law and grandbaby are adorable! :)