The Richest Couple in America

For nearly a year our daughter lived in a one-room cabin with no running water, no bathroom, and no inside kitchen. She had five children and was pregnant with her sixth. They now have a bathroom, a kitchen, running water, another room added on ~ and their seventh baby! But they still don't have bedrooms or even beds for the children. There's no room for beds. Each night the children take their blankets from the big pile in the corner and make their cozy spot on the floor in the all-purpose room. Is Evangeline a grumbling mess? No! Are the children deprived? No! They all have a wonderful life. She is the most joyful mother in this nation. The children are happy and live adventure-filled lives. Some time ago, some young people gathered together and began to discuss who were the richest people they knew. They all came to the conclusion that Evangeline and Howard were the richest! It had nothing to do with their material possessions. It had all to do with their joy of the Lord and their attitude to life. {Nancy Campbell}

Most people think that the richest couples are those who have careers, fame, fortune, big homes, travel the world, etc. NONE of these things have any eternal value. Children have eternal value. Way too many young couples are putting off children so they can have experiences or things. Experiences and things have NO eternal value. Producing godly offspring has eternal value that can affect our society for good and for God's purposes.

So many women leave their homes and work to give their children stuff and a better life than they had. Children don't need stuff! Their needs are VERY simple. They need a mother and a father who love each other and are committed for life. They need food, shelter and clothing. They need a mother home full-time with them to teach and train them to grow up to be hard-working, disciplined and God-fearing adults. This is what children need.

We have listened to the lies of society. We think our purpose in life is to be comfortable and have an easy life. We think we need to have all the latest iPhones and electronics. We need to have several cars and wide screen televisions. We need the latest and best medical care in the world. We need...we need...we need...It is a never ending cesspool of needs that have NO eternal value.

Our purpose on earth is to glorify God. When we have children and raise them in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord, we are spreading the Gospel and spending our time on eternal things. Stop listening to the lies of the enemy and what you think you need to be happy and begin investing your lives in things that have eternal value, like loving and serving your husband and raising godly offspring.

Has not the one God made you? 

You belong to him in body and spirit. 

And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring.

Malachi 2:15

***Erin at Keeper of the Homestead has a sale going on for Mother's Day! Her book is 50% off. Women in the chat room and in comments under my posts rave about her book!

Not Eating the Bread of Idleness

The Proverbs 31 woman did not eat the bread of idleness. Do you eat the bread of idleness? What does this mean? Paul answers this in I Timothy 5:13,"At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention." In today's society, we also have the problem with television, Internet and iPhones! 

Did you notice that the first thing he mentioned after the word idle is not being at home? In fact, King Solomon wrote this about a whore, "She is boisterous and rebellious, Her feet do not remain at home" (Proverbs 7:11). This shows she is very discontent at home and is looking for pleasure outside of her home.  She doesn't want to be at home taking care of it and all who live there. 

What are those"things not proper to mention?" I'm sure today it would be talking about things they'd seen on the soap opera that day, or about an ungodly and immoral movie was about, or criticizing and complaining about their husbands. It would probably include speaking negatively about others and tearing them down. The talk would be unwholesome and not uplifting in any way. They are tearing their own homes down with their bare hands by not being productive in their homes and filling their time with meaningless tasks. They are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

What is Paul's solution to the problem of idleness? Here it is in I Timothy 5:14, "I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully." God wants women to marry and have children. He wants them to spend their days loving and pleasing their husbands and raising their children in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord.

They need to guide the home. This is their God-ordained sphere of influence. It is their primary responsibility in life; to be home taking good care of it and her family. If they don't take this responsibility seriously, according to this verse, they give the Enemy opportunity to speak evil of them. "Ha, she says she's a Christian, but it sure doesn't look that way!"

You can do this, women. With God all things are possible. His Spirit lives inside of you and a fruit of the Spirit is self-control You can keep your home need and tidy. You can raise your children in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord and you can be a godly, submissive help meet to your husband ALL in the power of the Lord.

She looks well to the ways of her household, 

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31:27

Owning Your Past Mistakes

Andy Stanley said, "You make peace with your past when you own part of your past." Have you ever met a divorced woman and asked her what happened in her marriage and she always blames her ex-husband; he was this, he did that, etc.? Not one woman that I have ever mentored blamed any part of the destruction of her marriage on herself at the beginning. It was all his fault. She must be perfect.

Then I begin asking them questions: "Do you respect him? Do you submit to and obey him? Do you please him and serve him? Do you have a meek and quiet spirit?" Not one woman could answer "yes" to all of these questions. Until they saw their part in their past could they heal their marriage.

This principle doesn't just apply to marriage. It applies to all relationships that have gone awry. You must own your past, ask for forgiveness for your part and seek to make amends by changing your behavior and becoming the woman God wants you to become.

As long as we blame all of our problems on others, we will continue to have problems with others. If we want friends, we must learn to be friendly, ask questions, serve and be generous. If we want our children to enjoy us, we must become enjoyable. If we want our husband to love being married to us, we must become lovable. For too many years, I did all the wrong things to try to get Ken to love me the way I thought he should love me. I wanted him to tell me how wonderful I was, do romantic things for me and be the husband I wanted him to be. What man can possibly live up to these expectations?

From the many years that I have been married, I have found that the more I focused upon the Lord and changing myself, the better our marriage has become. You will never get anywhere in life if you are always playing the victim and never acknowledging the things you are doing wrong in your relationships. We can always be improving in our relationships with others. This is why we need to be spending concentrated time in God' Word for it convicts, changes and through the Holy Spirit's work in us, makes us more like Jesus.

Ken and I watched a movie recently called "The Hundred Foot Journey." {I encourage you all to watch it if you love movies filled with cooking, romance and good overcoming evil.} The main star in this movie acted like Jesus. When others treated him poorly, he would never respond in bitterness and hate but in love and forgiveness. When someone was wronged, he did all he could to make amends. He put people and their feelings above his own. This is how we all must strive to be with the help of Jesus working mightily within in us.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, 

forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

An Empty Home is a Lonely Home

When I was growing up, I'd go to homes of my friends whose mother worked full-time outside of the home. They were cold homes. We'd eat a bunch of junk and watch soap operas. Another friend would go home during the lunch hours in high school to have sex with her boyfriends. No one was home watching over it and guarding it from evil.

My mom was always home. Even through high school, the first thing that I did when I got home was yell, "Mom, I'm home!" Then she would come to me and want to know all about my day. When I was sick growing up, she'd set me on the couch with pillows, blankets, coloring books and crayons. I watched cartoons and sipped on lemon honey and water. Everyone loved coming to my home since there was always someone there watching over it and guarding it. 

There are too many children coming home to empty homes these days. I walk by a preschool every day. Yesterday, I heard a newborn crying and it broke my heart. The baby's own mother isn't with him/her to care, nurture and cuddle her own baby. How can this possibly be a good thing? 

In my neighborhood, there is someone home in almost every single home. The majority of mothers are home raising their children or the husbands work from the home. It makes this neighborhood feel secure. There's only been one divorce on my whole street in the 17 years we've lived here and all of the children have grown up to be hard-working, responsible adults. It's almost as if we're in la la land but this was life in most of America just 80 years ago.

Women left their homes to go find "fulfillment" and left a trail of devastation in their path. All of the promises of feminism have been empty promises. I was thinking about not using the word 'feminism' anymore since it offends so many women but I decided that it is more important for me to teach Truth than to water it down to be popular. Years ago, a woman who has a very large blog told me privately that she could never write what I write because it would offend way too many of her readers! I never want that to me a motivation for me.

Yes, evil has existed since Eve ate the apple so sin and pain have been around since almost the beginning of time. BUT women leaving their homes all day long has only happened in the past 80 years or so and it has only caused pain and suffering; broken marriages, lonely children, and empty homes.

As C.S. Lewis wrote, "Homemaking is surely in reality the most important work in the world. What do ships, railways, mines, cars, government, etc. exist for except that people may be fed, warmed, and safe in their own homes? The Homemaker's job is one for which all others exist."

If there is any way at all that you can come home and fill your home with your presence, please come home. I know I write about this often but it doesn't seem like there are many writing about it so I will keep encouraging women to be keepers at home since God commanded that I do this. Find joy in God's will for you! It is the very best and safest place for you to be.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, 

and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31:28

More posts in my Home Series.

Stop Playing in or Near the Lake of Mud!

Wickedness is increasing in our society. The Lake of Mud is getting darker and darker. Those deep in the lake love being in the lake watching and cheering on those who are getting more and more covered with the mud. For those who believe in the Man from Galilee, He lifts them out of the Lake of Mud, purges them of the mud by cleansing them completely and calls them a new creature in Christ. 

However, these new creatures washed from their mud, far too often lose sight of what they have been saved from, and to Whom they belong so they go back to the Lake of Mud and stick their toe in or at least love watching those playing in the Lake of Mud. Others feel they are avoiding the Lake of Mud by setting up a spot where they can self-righteously enjoy watching sinners frolicking in the mud, feeling confident that the splatter will never reach them. The "fun" beckons them daily to come and jump back into their dead, muddy flesh and feed it with the things of the world. The problem with this is once they stick their toe in, it is easy to stick half of their leg in, then their other foot, go deeper and deeper and end up in the Lake of Mud completely covered in the mud of the flesh, the eyes, and the pride of life. 

This is why the Man from Galilee warns the new creatures to flee from the Lake of Mud. Don't even go near it! Don't watch what those in the Lake of Mud are doing. Don't have anything to do with the mud. If you accidentally fall into the Lake of Mud, climb out quickly, wash yourself off and thank the Man from Galilee for rescuing you from that filthy place.

Next time, don't go near the Lake of Mud so you won't 'accidentally' fall in. Begin following the Man from Galilee and learn from Him instead. His Lake has crystal clear water and is soothing to your soul. The more time you spend in His Lake, the more you will detest the Lake of Mud and hate what goes on in it. You will begin avoiding it like a plague and spending all of your time in His Lake. Your mind will begin to be filled with good things and you will find that there is no place you would rather be. If you're walking a little too close to the Lake of Mud and a bit of mud splatters on you, wipe it off quickly and run to His Lake and dive head first into the crystal clear water remembering that THIS is where you belong. He is yours and you are His. 

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, 
and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; 

and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

James 1:14,15

Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

Romans 12:9

Fed Up With Forgiving Your Husband?

You're tired of putting up with your husband and his sins and faults. You're ready to give up and get out. You've done everything you can to make your marriage better but he still isn't living up to your expectations of him. Well, one woman has some powerful words for you if you are in this situation ~

Marriage is a microcosm of the relationship between a believer and Christ. In marriage, we learn of commitment, self-sacrifice, love, and more. The man loving and protecting the woman teaches us how Christ loves and protects us; the woman respecting and serving her husband teaches us to serve and respect Christ. Once we understand this, the concept of divorce is so much more deplorable.

I've had plenty of women come to me with stories of what their husband has done or failed to do, looking for my support, hoping I will validate the choice they want to make by telling them, "Yes, he has done enough. God would want you to go." Instead, I ask a question, "Are you done being forgiven by Christ?" Maybe you have forgiven and forgiven, and you feel like your words fall on deaf ears. Maybe you are tired of having the same conversation over and over with seemingly no end in sight. Maybe you aren't happy about the person he is at this moment. So what? Couldn't our heavenly Father say the same of us? 

What if God was tired of forgiving us because He had done it so many times before, far more times than "we" have ever forgiven anyone? What if He was tired of His words falling on deaf ears, which they do, and decided to cut His losses? Do any of us think that He is totally happy with who we are at this moment? He asks for perfection, and tells us to strive to perfect ourselves, with His help and power, so unless we are perfect than we are not yet what he wants us to be. Forgive as you want to be forgiven. If you are done being forgiven by Christ, then by all means be done forgiving others. if not, then it is time to buck up and learn about patience and self-sacrifice. 

I'm sorry, women, but this life down here isn't easy nor is it supposed to be easy. We learn a lot more through our trials than through our good times. During our hard times, we must cling to Jesus and trust in His strength working through us. I know many of you struggle through difficult marriages but your time is not wasted by serving and pleasing your husband. God sees every single act of service that you do and you will be rewarded for He promises us that we reap what we sow. Therefore, take hope since He has overcome the world and will be faithful to fulfill all of His promises to us.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Warning Them About Harlots

What type of women should young men look for when pursuing a wife? The first few chapters of Proverbs are full of exhortations to young men of what to avoid in women. What characteristics do these women that they are to avoid look like? It is clearly stated in a few verses: loud, stubborn, promiscuous, aggressive and immodest. It sounds like many women today, unfortunately.

"And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot, and cunning of heart. She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house" {Proverbs 7:10,11}. Women today dress like harlots. They are immodest, showing as much skin as possible and care less about being a stumbling block to men. Even many Christian women dress according to the world's standards instead of God's Standards. 

"She is loud and stubborn." This is completely opposite of being meek and quiet as the Lord commands of women's behavior who profess Jesus as their Lord. Young women are taught to voice their opinions, not to listen to authority, do things their own way, become independent, dress the way they want, only please them self, do what feels good, make their own money, live under no one's rules, and NEVER submit to your husband. They don't want anyone telling them what to do just as Eve didn't want God to tell her what to do. Women want to be accountable to no one and go their own way.

They are usually very aggressive; "She leads him and forces him along" {Proverbs 7:21}. They have no problem calling boys up and asking them out. They send them naked pictures of themselves and go to their homes, seeking them out.

These women give sex freely and often. They give them any kind of sex they want thinking that this will cause the young men to value them.  "Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves...Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death" {Proverbs 7:18,27}

Mothers, please, protect your sons from the harlots around them. Be a godly wife and mother as an example to them of what they ought to look for in a wife. Read to them Proverbs 31, I Peter 3 and Titus 2 for the definition of the characteristics they should desire in a wife. Don't put them in public high schools and universities where the girls will pursue them and want to do all types of vile things sexually for them and where they will be exposed to all types of porn.

Here is God's prescription for young men ~

"How can a young man keep his way pure
By keeping it according to Your word...
Your word I have treasured in my heart,

 That I may not sin against You."
Psalm 119:9,11

Is There a Formula for Raising Godly Children?

We loved raising our children. They have been the greatest gift from God in our life. We took raising them VERY seriously. We made sure our children grew up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and taught them to be obedient to us from the time they were very little. {The only reason I use my children as an example so much is because they are the only children I raised and have experience with!}

We NEVER labeled them! I am sure one of my children would have been labeled with some learning disability if we had them tested. I am so happy we never did and they are doing GREAT today. We always wanted them to know who they were IN Christ, not from who others said they were or labeled them. Their identity comes from God and how much He loves them. They were created for Him and His purposes. {I realize some children have serious learning disabilities and need help. This was NOT my child.}

 The very most important thing we did in raising our children was to preach and live the Gospel in front of them as best as we could. No, we were far from perfect but we did do some things right by God's grace! We loved others. We were never mean to others. We forgave easily. We never held grudges.  We taught them life wasn't fair and that self-pity was satanic. We taught them often about the Lord and His ways. We trained them in the way we wanted them to go. No, I wasn't a submissive wife and have repented of this, but we were faithful to each other and didn't argue in front of the children.

Every single Thursday night, I would take all of my children and any neighborhood children who wanted to come to AWANA where they would memorize MANY Bible verses. I was VERY ill during this time but this was an absolute priority in my life. I wanted their roots to go deep into Jesus and know His Word. We must not expect the church or anyone else to preach and live the Gospel to our children. God commands that we take the responsibility for this task. It falls on our shoulders and we must be determined and consistent with living it out on a daily basis. God's Word should be written on the doorposts of your home!

I have been criticized for acting like there was some "formula" for raising godly offspring. There are no guarantees they will chose to follow Jesus, but God sure makes it clear about this ~

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, 
with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another 
with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 
singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16

***The beautifully framed verse in the picture was done at my request by my very talented daughter-in-law, Emily, who does wedding calligraphy and custom signs like this one and can be emailed at emprintcalligraphyco@gmail.com or followed on Instagram at emprintcalligraphyco. 

What Exactly is Killing Our Planet?

Many people believe that overpopulation is what is destroying our planet. Families like the Duggars are irresponsible. However this article sheds light on this lie from the pit of hell. Big families are not destroying our planet. Now that most couples only have one or two children is when our planet is being destroyed. It wasn't being destroyed 100 years ago when couples had many children. Here is what a mother of nine children had to say about it ~

Our family lives in the suburbs of Ottawa in a typical wealthy suburban neighbourhood found throughout North America. Large single family homes, 4 bedrooms, double car garage. Two cars, or rather, one car and a larger vehicle such as a minivan or a SUV. The house we currently live in was designed for a family of 4 or 5 people. 

On my street, in houses of similar size and function, you will find mostly couples with no children or 1 or 2 children. Some are young families hoping to expand but most are older. They all live in 3 000+ sq. ft. homes built on former prime agricultural land, with 2 vehicles, air conditioning and heating brought to you by some coal-fired power plant somewhere in Ontario. It doesn’t cost more to heat-up 3 000 square feet for a family of 10 than it does for a family of 2 by the way. Except that with the size of my bills, when the weather is nice I open the windows. Most of my neighbours turn-on the A/C in May and turn it off in October. 

And while my pile of garbage is bigger than theirs, the truck moves for them as much as it does for me… and their garbage pile is not one fifth of mine, although their household is. Their vehicles are never full and move at least as much as mine do, filled to the brim. This March Break, we stayed home bar a 60 minute drive to the nearest ski hill. Half of my children’s school friends flew-off to a sunnier destination. And you are shaking your accusatory finger at me?

Let me tell you what is killing the planet. It’s egotism. It’s a culture of entitlement that drives us to grab what should be ours, whether we need it or not. It’s the pursuit of “more”, not to say “too much”. Take a drive through Ottawa’s old neighbourhoods and take a look at the little brick bungalows. 2 or 3 bedrooms, no bigger than a triple car garage. Reflect on the fact that these homes were once considered “family-sized”, at a time where families were bigger. 

Today, my single family home features two bedrooms with full ensuites. Ideal for the only teen who would rather not share a toilet with his parents: your children can now sleep, socialize and shower in their very own personal wing. They don’t even need to interact while going to take a pee! Progress would be a built-in meal door. But the problem is my husband, my children and me?

In honor of Earth Day today, stop listening to the lies of Satan and if you are able, have children. Children are a gift and a blessing from the Lord; always have been and always will be. This world needs children who are raised in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord to spread the light of Jesus to all the nations. Obey God instead of society. Society doesn't know what it is talking about since it is being controlled by the prince of lies.

Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Psalm 127:3-5

Spending Money on Things that Don't Satisfy

We work and save up for our dream home. We buy it {with help from a bank} and fill it with stainless steel appliances, gorgeous flooring, fancy furniture and everything else that we've always desired. The new car we always wanted sits in our big garage. Our closets are spilling over with clothes. Every cupboard and closet is stuffed full. We have the latest iPhone and largest big screen TV. We've climbed to the top of the mountain: the American dream!

Most who have reached this mountain top are deep in debt. The mother and father have to both work long hours to make the payments. The children are shuffled to day care and this big, new, gorgeous home sits empty most of the day. Everyone comes home exhausted and wonders, "Is this all there is to life?'

God quietly speaks to you and says, "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance" {Isaiah 55:2}.

"Mmmmm," you think, "I thought all of these things I have worked so hard for would satisfy." And God speaks to you again saying, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" {Matthew 6:19-21}.

It's ALL going to burn, so what treasure is God speaking about and how should we live in this materialistic society? The greatest commandment is to love God and love others. Therefore, spend your time with God reading His Word and speaking Truth to others when the opportunity presents itself for He says about His Word "it shall not return unto me void" and go out and love and serve others whether you are at work or at home.

You should not go into deep debt and spend more than you earn. You should learn to save up for something you want to buy. Buy what you need. Yes, it's okay to buy what you want at times, if you can afford it, but always remember that it will NEVER satisfy you. NEVER. It's not worth the sacrifice of not being able to raise your children or having time to minister to others. Study to live simply and contently knowing that your true treasures are stored in heaven!

A Home with Laughter is a Fun Home!

There are way too many homes in America where there is no laughter. There is only stress, conflict, fear, and loneliness. The Bible says, "A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones" {Proverbs 17:22} Science has proven that laughter is good medicine; imagine that! "Humor is infectious. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. Laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use."

With divorce way too common, both parents working outside of the home, children being bullied at school and not learning much to make them happy about, and listening to a daily diet of news, no wonder our homes and families are in crisis. Our homes need to be founded upon the Rock. We need to dwell on the lovely and the good. Look for the beauty around you. Love your husband. I mean really LOVE him! Be affectionate and warm towards your children. Laugh together with them. Sing praise and worship songs showing to them the joy of the Lord!

The very first assignment I give women when I mentor them is to begin smiling at their husbands. The husbands usually respond to this VERY quickly. They begin to feel as if their wife actually likes them! Begin laughing at your husband's jokes! Watch funny shows on TV, if you can find any decent ones. No one enjoys being around a pessimist! Optimistic people are so much more fun. Your children will fondly remember growing up if there is a lot of fun and laughing in the home.

My Dad always said that my Mom's middle name was 'fun!' She loves to laugh and have fun. She still does at 84 years old! She thinks of life as one big playground. She's generous and loves to share with others. She hates anyone to feel left out or excluded. She's always included everyone! 

God commands that we be joyful and the first step to being joyful is being thankful. Many times marriages are turned around when the wife begins dwelling on all of the good in her husband instead of his faults. Do the same with your children. Encourage them consistently and praise them when they do good.

Doing things as a family brings joy. Eat dinner together. Go to church together. Be together! Don't allow arguing and fighting in your home. Make your home a place of peace.

Laughter is your birthright, a natural part of life that is innate and inborn. Infants begin smiling during the first weeks of life and laugh out loud within months of being born. Even if you did not grow up in a household where laughter was a common sound, you can learn to laugh at any stage of life.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, 

and our tongue with singing: 

then said they among the heathen, 

The Lord hath done great things for them.

Psalm 126:2

More posts in my Home Series.

photo source

How are You Walking?

Yes, we only gain salvation by believing in Jesus. This is it. We don't have to be good enough to believe in Him. We don't have to get our act together before we make Him our Savior. We simply believe. Then what? We walk.

But if we WALK in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

John 1:7

That ye might WALK worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. 

Colossians 1:10

And WALK in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 

Ephesians 5:2

The Bible even says that disobedient husbands may be won by their wives walk, their lifestyle. {I Peter 3:1}

Therefore, we must WALK according to what we believe. God doesn't want us just to believe but to have a transformed life by renewing our minds with His Truth since His Word is living and active. As soon as we believe, His Spirit indwells us and enables us to WALK in love and to WALK in Him. If there's no change in us after we believe, there's no belief. Our behavior flows out from our beliefs. We adorn His Word when we WALK in obedience to it and we blaspheme it when we WALK in disobedience.

Does this mean we are perfect? Perfect in Christ, yes, since He fulfilled the Law and paid the penalty for our sins. We are freed from sin and damnation. However, we aren't perfect while living on this earth, but our lives should be looking different than those around you. People should be able to see Jesus living inside of us. We should be growing kinder, more patient, more loving and forgiving, more meek and gentle, more like Jesus.

Examine your life, the Bible says, to make sure you are in the faith, NOT to see how much sin is in your life but how much you believe. Do you believe you have been purged from your sins? Do you believe you are a child of the Most High and dearly loved? Do you believe you can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you? Then walk in Truth and in love. You can do it.

Pursuit of Happiness Thwarts Happiness

Our founders had it wrong. Instead of "the pursuit of happiness," they should have put "the pursuit of meaning" in the Declaration of Independence since "research has shown that having purpose and meaning in life increases overall well-being and life satisfaction...and ironically, the single-minded pursuit of happiness is leaving people less happy. It is the very pursuit of happiness that thwarts happiness."

Viktor Frankl, a prominent Jewish psychiatrist, was put into a Nazi concentration camp with his pregnant wife and family. He was the only one that made it out alive. He saw how the prisoners with meaning and purpose to their lives had a better chance of surviving than those who did not.

Many couple are deciding not to have children these days since it will put a huge crimp in their lifestyle. Research shows that parents are less happy interacting with their children than they are exercising, eating, and watching television...Pleasures are fleeing. Meaning, on the other hand, is enduring...Having children is associated with the meaningful life and requires self-sacrifice, but it has been famously associated with low happiness among parents.

Therefore, many young couples don't want to make the short-term sacrifice to have children but instead, want to have short-term pleasure for long-term pain. The long-term pain of not having children to care for them in their old age, grandchildren to hug and play with and the fulfillment that comes with raising godly children who have a positive impact on the world around them.

Being human always points, and is directed, to something or someone other than oneself. The more one forgets himself - by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love - the more human he is. By devoting our lives to giving rather than taking, we also acknowledge that there is more to the good life than the pursuit of simple happiness. 

Your life at home raising children, being a help meet to your husband and taking care of your home gives you purpose in your life. Daily, you give your life away to gain something so much better, so much richer than any temporary pleasure could ever satisfy. God created us to work and to give our lives away as living sacrifices. Find joy in giving and serving, dear mothers. "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose" {Jim Elliot}. As our world is busy in the pursuit of  happiness, let's be busy in the pursuit of godliness and only do those things which please our Master.

Happy is that people, that is in such a case: 
yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
Psalm 144:15

Be Careful Little Eyes What You See!

Are you careful with what you see? Do you carefully avoid immoral and ungodly movies and television shows? "Many mothers who have never worked outside the home do very little in the home to strengthen their families: gossiping, watching ungodly and immoral soap operas and a host of other things can be as destructive as a working mother" {John MacArthur}

God commands that we dwell on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise {Philippians 4:8} and He doesn't command this to us to keep us from having fun. He commands this for our good.

When you fill your mind with ungodly and immoral images, they give Satan a foothold in your life. It begins a slippery slope down into more and more sin. "Oh, that won't happen to me," you may think but the God who made you knows other wise and commands that you deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age {Titus 2:12}.

None of God's commands are intended to harm us but to protect us just as what you teach your children is intended to protect them and not harm them. God love us MORE than you love your children. He created us and knows what is best.

Casting Crowns has a song called Fade Away. I encourage you to listen to it. Here are some of the lyrics ~ 

Be careful little eyes what you see

It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings

Be careful little feet where you go

For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid

When you give yourself away

People never crumble in a day

It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

We MUST not be like frogs in the pot that slowly get cooked to death because they don't know the fire is under them causing the water to come to a boil. We don't want to be that lukewarm church that God will spit out of His mouth. We must hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Teach your children to love purity and holiness. Teach them to love God's good ways and walk on His narrow path to life. Satan's broad path leads to destruction but God's path leads to eternal life.

Do You Love Your Husband More Than Your Children?

Ayelet Waldman caused quite a stir among women ten years when she said, "I love my husband more than my children!" She went on to say they enjoyed a passionate sex life  "If you focus all of your emotional passion on your children and you neglect the relationship that brought that family into existence...eventually, things can go really, really wrong...So many women today have become so focused on their children, they've developed these romantic entanglements with their children's lives and the husbands are secondary. They're left out." She went on to say that they have raised happy, contented, successful children.

It is so much easier to love our children than our husbands but let me tell you, those children grow up and leave and then you are left alone with your husband. I have seen couples who didn't raise their children with much discipline but the wives LOVED their husbands. Those children have grown up to be great adults!

I always have told women the greatest gift you can give your children is to love their daddy deeply. It discourages me when I see all pictures mothers are posting about their children on Facebook and them with their children but none with their husbands. Then I LOVE seeing mothers posting romantic pictures of themselves with their husbands! Far too many women prefer their children over their husbands, yet they were the ones who chose their husbands to make their babies!

Many mothers make their children the center of their universe. All of their energy and time goes into taking care of them. When children see their mothers making their fathers a priority, the children love it. Their greatest sense of security lies in the healthy relationship between mother and father. I have read blogs where the wives are always serve their husbands, first at dinner to show the children how much they honor and respect their husband, then throughout the day with joy, laughter and smiles. Children feel a sense of deep dread when they sense their parent's relationship deteriorating.

We must always remember that we were first created to be our husband's help meet. This is our primary role when we marry. I failed in this area. I thought Ken was a big boy and could take care of himself, and he did, which removed far too many connections between us. I listened to all the lies of society and around me instead of what God's Word plainly spells out. For some reason, all those verses about headship, submission, obedience, pleasing, etc. were hidden to me. Blindness comes when doing things the world's ways. Don't make the same mistake I made, and if you have, begin with me to make your husband your first priority. 

I have many a woman come to me in tears of despair crying out for an answer to restoring their relationship with their husband that is on the rocks, or going no where. The answers are always the same; get in God's Word daily and do what it calls you to do, and to be. Then go to your husband and ask him if he will forgive you for the years of  famine you have helped to create in your relationship. Ask him to gently coach you in all areas of what God calls you to be; a submissive, godly and chaste wife who puts her husband first and your household second, knowing that this is what pleases the Lord, and will restore your heart and marriage.

And the LORD God said, 

It is not good that the man should be alone; 

I will make him an help meet for him.

Genesis 2:18