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Times of Change



What you need to do, is to put your will over completely into the hands of your Lord, surrendering to Him the entire control of it. Say, “Yes, Lord, YES!” to everything, and trust Him to work in you to will, as to bring your whole wishes and affections into conformity with His own sweet, and lovable, and most lovely will. It is wonderful what miracles God works in wills that are utterly surrendered to Him. He turns hard things into easy, and bitter things into sweet. It is not that He puts easy things in the place of the hard, but He actually changes the hard thing into an easy one.~Hannah Whitall Smith

Our family has undergone some major changes over the past few months. My husband accepted a job that has taken us over 600 miles from home and calls for him to travel, my sweet daughters are leaving me for part of the summer to serve at an orphanage in Guatemala, we are settling into a new home and looking for a new church in a city far away from all our friends and family. Sounds pretty scary huh?

The funny thing is I have such a sweet peace about it. I never imagined that any of this would be happening, but when God opened the doors and provided these opportunities for our family, we decided to step through. Once we decided to follow the path that God had placed before us, everything seemed to fall into place. He truly has "turned hard things into easy, and bitter things into sweet."

I have always been very shy, but I'm looking forward to forming new friendships. Our daily life is changing drastically, but  I'll now have new adventures to share with my family. Yes, there will still be challenges I face, but I know that God is in control. I want to surrender myself completely into the hands of my Heavenly Father and follow wherever he leads.

 

My Sacred Calling

 

“Home is the true wife’s kingdom. There, first of all places, she must be strong and beautiful. Very largely does the wife hold in her hands, as a sacred trust, the happiness and the highest good of the hearts that nestle there. The best husband—the truest, the noblest, the gentlest, the richest-hearted—cannot make his home happy if his wife be not, in every reasonable sense, a helpmate to him. Home happiness depends on the wife. Her spirit gives the home its atmosphere. Her hands fashion its beauty. Her heart makes its love. And the end is so worthy, so noble, so divine, that no woman who has been called to be a wife, and has listened to the call, should consider any price too great to pay, to be the light, the joy, the blessing, the inspiration of a home."
~JR Miller

"The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies. A true mother is one of the holiest secrets of home happiness. God sends many beautiful things to this world, many noble gifts; but no blessing is richer than that which He bestows in a mother who has learned love's lessons well, and has realized something of the meaning of her sacred calling."~JR Miller

 

"Far more than we know, do the strength and beauty of our lives depend upon the home in which we dwell. He who goes forth in the morning from a happy, loving, prayerful home, into the world’s strife, temptation, struggle, and duty, is strong--inspired for noble and victorious living. The children who are brought up in a true home go out trained and equipped for life’s battles and tasks, carrying in their hearts a secret of strength which will make them brave and loyal to God, and will keep them pure in the world’s severest temptations." ~JR Miller

 

It can be so easy to get bogged down with kids, bills, laundry, meals...and lose the meaning of what it means to be a wife and mother.  Instead of seeing ourselves as cooks, cleaners, errand runners...we need to envision ourselves as  "the light; the joy, the blessing, the inspiration" of our homes. Imagine how homes, families and marriages would be today if women realized the importance of their calling. Sadly, in todays society, being a homemaker is not considered a choice profession.

 



“Much of the world would agree that being a housekeeper is acceptable as long as you are not caring for your own home; treating men with attentive devotion would also be right as long as the man is the boss in the office and not your husband; caring for children would even be deemed heroic service for which presidential awards could be given as long as the children are someone else’s and not your own” ~Dorothy Patterson

 

  Homemaking is often viewed in a negative light, but we need to view our calling through the Light of God's Word.  Where the world sees drudgery, God sees devotion. Where the world sees menial work , God sees ministry. Where the world sees a weak, ignorant servant, God sees a strong, wise woman who delights in her husband and children. 

 

You are as much serving God in looking after your own children, & training them up in God’s fear, & minding the house, & making your household a church for God, as you would be if you had been called to lead an army to battle for the Lord of hosts.~Charles Spurgeon

 



As the New Year begins, I want to strive to be a joy and inspiration to my family. To not merely go through a routine, but to delight in doing good things for them. To be a blessing to my husband and children and to create a home overflowing with  prayer, love, joy and peace.

 

What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow. ~Martin Luther



The Importance of Communication

 

Your communication will reveal the kind of person you really are, because what comes out of your mouth is usually what's in your heart. If you truly desire to exemplify Christ you will seek to become a good communicator. Everything that Jesus Christ communicated was holy, clear, purposeful and timely.~Stuart Scott 

 

We say a lot to those around us by the way we communicate with them. Everything that we say or do is an example to someone: our spouse, our children, our co-workers, unsaved family and friends... What message is it that we are sending? Is it one of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control? Or is it one of hate, anger, bitterness, lewdness, selfishness and strife?

 

Will an unsaved acquaintance walk away from a conversation with you and say "Wow, That person is always so kind, helpful, patient... I want what they've got!" Or will they walk away shaking their head saying, "If that's a Christian, I don't want to be one." 

 

Does your spouse know you will always be there to listen and encourage them? Or do they feel their needs are a bother to you and therefore keep to themselves? Do your children feel free to come to you with their problems? Or do they avoid you because they are afraid of how you will react?  

 

You can't rant and rave to your friend about the slow car in front of you and expect them to see patience; you can't tell a dirty joke to a co-worker and expect them to see goodness; you can't scream at your spouse and expect them to see love and gentleness; you can't fly off the handle and expect your children to learn self-control. When we become good communicators, not only are we setting the right example to those around us, but we, ourselves, are also growing in our relationships with others and our walk with the Lord.

 

A corrupt and unholy heart eventually will be exposed by corrupt and unholy speech... If the tongue is not controlled by God, it is a sure indicator that the heart is not, either.~John MacArthur

 



Finding Time For God

 



Let the first act on waking be to place yourself, your heart, mind, faculties, your whole being, in God's hands. Ask Him to take entire possession of you, to be the Guide of your soul, your Life, your Wisdom, your Strength. He wills that we seek him in all our needs, that we may both know Him truly, and draw closer and closer to Him; and in prayer we gain an invisible force which will triumph over seemingly hopeless difficulties.~Sidney Lear

What are my priorities? This is a question that I have been asking myself lately. My quick answer would be God, my husband, my children...BUT,  is this what my life reflects? If I answer this question honestly, my answer would have to be no. I have great intentions, but I don't always follow through.

Everyone, myself included, is so busy today. We have work, school, the gym, meals to fix, kids to tend to...and the list goes on. Often, we are just too busy to spend time with God. But, quiet time with God  should not be something we have to find time for; it should be the one part of our day that is crucial. A time to worship our Creator, to dwell in His presence; a time that strengthens us, encourages us, and equips us to deal with everything else in our lives that we have to face.

If we want to grow in wisdom and develop godly character, we must exercise our spiritual muscles. We can't eat cake all week, exercise one day a week and expect to be in shape. In the same manner, we can't squeeze God in one day a week and expect to be spiritually fit.

The present benefit of spiritual discipline is a fulfilled, God-blessed, fruitful, and useful life. If you get involved in spiritual gymnastics, the blessings of godliness will carry on into eternity. Although many people spend far more time exercising their bodies than their souls, the excellent servant of Jesus Christ realizes that spiritual discipline is a priority.~John MacArthur

"Love One Another"

 

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."~1 John 4:7-8

There has been a lot of debating lately over what it means to love others. I have spent the last few days praying and searching the Scriptures, and this is what God has placed on my heart to share. I do not write this to condemn anyone, but only to share the truth of God's Word.

What is love? God is love. The only way we can truly show love to our fellow man, is to show God to them. We are to desire the very best for them; a relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ. You cannot share Christ by tolerating sin; we are to love others so much that we don't want to leave them in their sin.

Our society today has demonized the upholding of morality and Christian values. We are labeled as narrow-minded, discriminatory and hateful. Even among some Christians, there is a movement that teaches tolerance and acceptance of sinful lifestyles is showing love to others. But, what does God's Word say about this?

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality."~Romans 12:9-13

We are to hate evil and cling to what is good. We cannot truly love our fellow man and tell them that it's ok to live a sinful life. There are those that use the argument, that Jesus would have been tolerant of their lifestyle, He hung out with sinners. But,  what we must remember is that He came to save them; He did not leave them in their sin. He told them, "Go and sin no more." Do not be deceived by those who say otherwise, the Bible states very clearly that you cannot continue on in sinful lifestyles and  inherit the kingdom of God.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,  nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."    ~1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

We are all sinners, but Jesus came to save us from our sin. When we accept Christ, we are a new creation. We are not bound by that sinful nature. That does not mean that we never sin, but it does mean that we strive to be more Christlike and do not actively pursue a sinful lifestyle. To tell our fellow man that this is ok is not showing them love, but condemning them. 

 It’s bad enough for me to make choices that hurt my own relationship with God. How much more serious is it to be the cause of someone else deciding to sin? Not only must I choose the pathway of holiness for God’s sake and for my own sake; I must also do it for the sake of others.~Nancy Leigh DeMoss

The following excerpt is taken from one of my previous blogs, "Mirror, Mirror...."

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.  
~1 John 2:3-6

This is not to say that Christians are never tempted or that they will not make mistakes, but we are to be "known by our fruits." "Becoming a true Christian results in a life that is dramatically different from the former life."~John Macarthur An apple tree produces apples, an orange tree produces oranges and as a Christian grows and ripens we produce the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. "The Christian does not, cannot habitually and persistently sin. He will sin sometimes. He will sin willfully. But he will not sin habitually, persistently and relentlessly."~John Macarthur

 

I pray that each of you has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!

The Sacredness of Marriage

"Marriage is not a human invention, it is the creation of God; it did not originate in the mind of man, but in the mind of God. This being the case, man cannot change the definition or purpose of marriage to suit himself. The redefinition of marriage is the negation of marriage."

~William Einwechter

"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.  And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.  And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.  And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;  And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."~Genesis 2:18-24

"And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,' and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?  So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

~Matthew 19:4-6

"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

~Mark 10:7-9

What does the Bible tell us about marriage?

-Marriage was created by God.

-Marriage is a life-long covenant between one man and one woman.

-The husband and wife are no longer two, but one.

Two men united in marriage remain two men, and two women united in marriage remain two women. However, a husband and wife united in marriage creates something new - a "one flesh" union. This marital oneness reflects the oneness of God, and as the oneness of God creates new life, marital oneness has the potential to create new life via children.

~Kristin J. Tremba

Our society today not only wants to re-define marriage, but wants to label anyone who disagrees as discriminatory or intolerant. But, as Christians, we are called to love others as Jesus loved us. "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends."~John 15:12-14 What does that really mean? Jesus loved us so much, that he wanted to save us from our sin. Are we loving our children if we let them do anything they want, even if it's wrong? Of course not, we love them so much, that we want to protect them from harm. In the same way, we show love to others by letting them know that Jesus died to save them from their sins. It is not love to approve of or tolerate sin because it makes someone happy. We are to love others so much, that we want to save them from death and destruction.