Allowing Children Pain

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

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. 

The Ideal For Children

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?

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

Natural and Healthy Cold And Flu Prevention

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 lemonade or 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} or take a teaspoon of Manuka Honey which is great at killing bacteria and viruses.

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.

Women Pastors

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?

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

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!

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, my youngest daughter, 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 even created her own cooking blog. 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, my daughter-in-law 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, my oldest daughter, can teach them how to dance and stay in shape. She can explain their new lives in Christ and encourage them in their walk with the Lord. She's great with makeup and hair and can show them how to look as pretty and feminine as possible for their husbands. All of the girls, now that they are all happily married, can give lots of tips on planning weddings, but mostly preparing for marriage. They can all teach how to let their husbands lead and how to make them happy. They will explain how wonderful marriage can be and encourage them to marry a believer and wait upon God's timing. Most importantly, they will teach how to cover their relationship with prayer.

Emily could teach them how to write in calligraphy, decorate their homes, learn to cook food that is pleasing to their husband and how to have a joyful spirit. She's also incredibly intelligent like the rest of the girls so I am sure she could teach them many of the things she has learned in life and how to get through the first year of marriage and still be crazy in love with their husband!

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

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

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?

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 putrify 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 these 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 but they are VERY strong! If you need something much more mild or for your children Magnesium Calm is amazing. Just take enough so you are no longer constipated. If your stools begin to get to loose, take less. If all that fails and you are also struggling with IBS, try the diet that I am on that has helped tremendously!

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

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, a radio personality, thinks kids should remain drunk throughout college if they go to public universities because they teach such terrible, destructive ideas. It would be better for them to stay drunk, in his opinion, then turn completely away from God's truth.

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 in America 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. If they desire to go to college, find out a way for them to go that won't put them under a huge mountain of debt and won't cause them to walk away from their faith.

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

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

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

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!

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

 

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

Sodium is given a very bad rap these days.  If you are talking about regular salt in the grocery store, yes, it is bad.  Man has taken salt the way God 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 137 to 147.  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