A PS to my Merry Christmas post

PS - I almost forgot to add something else I wanted to share with you about how the Lord blessed our daughters.

Since April, I have been looking for the perfume, Love's Baby Soft, for my oldest daughter, and could never find it. I used to wear it in high school, so I thought they discontinued it. While we were at Walmart on Saturday, I saw it, and had to buy it for her. So, that was a blessing.

Another blessing was this. Every year I buy our daughters Lip Smackers for their stockings. This year I could not find any at Walmart and was very disappointed. And guess what? Our daughter in law, not knowing I couldn't find them, bought them for the girls. Another blessing.

One last blessing was this - my older daughter wanted a Nintendo DS game. She had it on her list for a relative of ours, but I told her it was too expensive. So I suggested some other things that were much less expensive. She ended up being blessed with one, as well as her sister, from one of her aunts.

Those things were such blessings to me because God met my daughters *wants* and did exceedingly abundantly more than I asked Him for.

Eph 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Eph 3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Merry Christmas!

This is the first opportunity I've had to wish you all a Merry Christmas. I hope it has been a good one.

This Christmas has been the most humbling, and memorable one for me. Financially it has been a rough year for our family, but the Lord has always provided, and for that I thank Him. Because things have been tight, my husband and I decided he and I were not going to get each other anything for Christmas. We used Christmas money we received from a relative to buy our daughters some things. Plus, they received gifts from other relatives too, so they had three days worth of opening presents. Because we had less money to spend on them this year, we choose more wisely the gifts they were receiving from us due to our being blessed with the Christmas money from our relative.

This caused me to focus completely on the REAL MEANING of Christmas, and that is Christ's birth, so that's what I've been doing this month. I sang Christmas hymns during the week, and pondered the coming of Christ in the form of a baby.

Our son had to work yesterday, and so he dropped our daughter in law and granddaughter off early yesterday morning on his way to work. They spent Christmas Eve with us, including spending the night. Our granddaughter is 3 months old now, and as I held her, I thought of Jesus, and how He had once been a little baby like her.

We washed a load of towels late in the afternoon, and discovered that our dryer broke completely and we couldn't use it. We left our daughters with our son and daughter in law, and went to the laundry mat. It was about 9:00 PM on Christmas Eve. As we pulled up I saw a little girl of about five or six years old inside the laundry mat. My first thought was what was she doing in a laundry mat at 9:00 at night on Christmas Eve. She should have been in bed asleep like all of the other little children who were anticipating Christmas morning. When we went inside, she went outside, and it looked as though she was alone. I went out there because I was concerned about her, and then saw a young woman outside smoking a cigarette, and it turned out the little girl was with her. Then I wondered why a young woman would bring a little girl like that to the laundry mat so late at night, especially on Christmas Eve. Their clothes were still in the dryer when they left for a little while. As we were leaving, I noticed two sandwiches of some type, like from Burger King or somewhere like that. I couldn't stop thinking about them on our way home, and even today.

I did buy my husband one book, which he was not aware of, and it was wrapped yesterday afternoon when he left the house for a bit. This morning I did indeed learn that it truly IS more blessed to give than to receive. On Sunday, one of my brothers blessed my husband and I with a digital camera, and we felt badly because we were not able to get his family much. He has always told us that they didn't give us presents in order to receive one back. They give because they like to. That was something that I did not learn until this morning. My oldest daughter gave me a little knick knack of a girl with a guitar, and she bought me a big Peppermint Pattie. My youngest daughter gave me a coffee mug and another pretty knick knack. Our son and daughter in law bought our family a beautiful puzzle of the Last Supper. My husband, though he said little, was upset that he hadn't bought me anything. At first, for a very brief few minutes, I was a bit selfish, and my feelings were hurt a little bit until I reminded myself that my focus was on Christ, and His birth, and nothing more. God gave me the ultimate Gift when He chose to save me through the Gift of His Son. As I came to that realization, it also came to me that I bought that book for my husband because I WANTED to, simply for the pure pleasure of giving him something he might enjoy.

I was also reminded of the young woman, and little girl in the laundry mat last night. There she was, so late at night, on Christmas Eve, in a laundry mat where it isn't safe to be that late at night, but on Christmas Eve? Where was her husband? Or her parents? Who would let their wife or daughter do something like that so late at nigh, especially on Christmas Eve. Maybe she was a single mother, and had no parents, for whatever reason. I could very well be wrong, but it didn't look like she was going to have much of a Christmas, and here I was a little bit hurt because my husband didn't get me anything. I was so ashamed of myself, and my selfishness. It's not about *me*, but about Christ. I am so blessed by what the Lord has given to me, and blessed me with - a husband, children, a granddaughter, a home to live in, a job for my husband, and that list of blessings could go on and on. But most important to me is the gift of salvation, eternal life, that He has given to me. I pray that my husband will understand that he has nothing to feel badly about, that I gave him that gift because it would bring him pleasure.

I can truly say that I'm thankful for the situation we were in this Christmas because it brought me even closer to the Lord.

I pray that this was a Christmas that brought you closer to the Lord as well.

Hailey Elizabeth's First Picture

Since the birth of our granddaughter, I have had her first picture as the background of my desktop. What I didn't realize was that I had not saved the picture. I had downloaded it from the hospital's website. Last night, I was on Nancy Leigh DeMoss' website and she had some Christmas desktop backgrounds to download. Stupidly, without thinking I downloaded one of them and lost my granddaughter's picture on my desktop completely. The hospital no longer has it on their site. I was so upset, and spent part of last night crying. To the rescue this morning came my oldest daughter. Thankfully, we had saved Hailey's picture on our cell phones, so she sent me an email and I was able to download onto the computer from there. I am so thankful. So I've decided to post her picture here so I don't ever lose it again. Also, this way you get to see a picture of her. She will be three months old on December 17, 2007.

Isn't she beautiful? Of course, I'm not biased or anything, :).

Our best Thanksgiving

I became a Martha Stewart wannabe over the Thanksgiving holidays. I baked a pumpkin pie, sugar cookies, and made fudge. That was a first for me because I usually only make brownies or chocolate chip cookies. I'm a late bloomer, what can I say.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and we've all decided that it was our best Thanksgiving. It was just the four of us, and after we ate, the girls helped our elderly neighbor and her son, put her Christmas decorations up. On Friday, we put our Christmas tree up, and the girls decorated it. They did a great job, and it looks beautiful. We taught Brooke how to play Rummy, so we played that one day. My husband had four days in a row off, which was nice. It was nice because the time seemed to go slowly.

After dinner on Thanksgiving, we went around the table saying what we were thankful for. Besides my salvation, which is what I'm thankful for most of all, I'm thankful for what the Lord has done in my family this year. He has brought us closer together as a family, and in September, He blessed us with a beautiful granddaughter.

He is teaching me to be thankful, and as a result, He is filling me with joy.

A Lesson in Submission

Last night my husband and I went out to eat for our date night. This is something we try to do if not weekly, at least every couple of weeks. It's always an enjoyable time, and it gives us a chance to discuss certain things without our daughters listening in. Because we were going to Target, he suggested we go to the place we normally go, but to a closer one. I like the tea better at the other one so we went there. Afterwards, we drove to Target to buy a roaster for Thanksgiving that they had on sale. I was afraid they wouldn't have one, and we didn't see them at first. My husband went to their customer service counter, talked with someone and I was going to call them today after their trucks came. While he was doing that, I stayed behind to look at tea pots, and things like that. On our way out of that section to head home, his eyes fell upon not only one roaster, but four of them. I was so thankful he saw that.

Before we had gone to Target, we stopped at the grocery store. We were in need of batteries for our card shuffler. I saw some batteries, and he said we should get them at the dollar store because they were cheaper there. We walked out of the grocery store with the batteries.

We have had a headlight out on our van that I had forgotten about. On our way home, as we approached the light where we turn left, I saw on the other side of the road a police car suddenly turn on their blue light. That was the third blue light we saw last night, two others had gotten stopped, and looked like they were in the process of being given a ticket. We talked about how the police officer had ruined both of their nights. So, when I saw the blue light go on, my first thought was how he was going to ruin that person's night. Much to my horror, he did a u-turn. Even then it didn't occur to me that he could be after us because I knew my husband wasn't speeding. As we turned left, suddenly it dawned on me that we had a headlight out, and he might be after us. I hesitantly asked him if the police car was behind us, and he said yes. I couldn't see the blue light on, so I asked him if he saw one, he didn't see one either. We drove a little further, and he still hadn't stopped us. At first, I thought it was because it's a small two lane back road, and there was nowhere really to stop. As you drive further on though, there are new subdivisions being built, so I thought for sure he would stop us there, but he still wasn't. As I stated in my other post, my husband is easy going, and nothing worries him. I, on the other hand, am the opposite of him. I was sitting there with my stomach in knots, wondering how much a ticket was for a headlight that was out, and was thinking that it was the worst possible time to get a ticket. He told me not to worry because if he hadn't stopped us by then, he probably wasn't going to. He added that they usually give warnings the first time. I still sat there with my stomach in knots, until he made another turn a couple of miles later.

After he turned it hit me, and with a sinking feeling I remembered that he wanted to buy a headlight about a month ago when we were at Wal-Mart. Finances were a bit tight then, so I said we needed to wait until we saw how much we had left. We left there without the headlight. With more of a sinking feeling, I remembered the batteries (and that they had them at Target for dollar too I pointed out to him when we got there), and then his suggestion earlier of going to the other place near Target. I was kicking myself inside knowing that I had done it AGAIN. Not only ONCE, but THREE TIMES last night. The Lord used that police car to show me my sin of not submitting to my husband, not yielding to him. I sat there wondering if I was ever going to get it. My disobedience to my husband could have cost us a ticket. I was so ashamed of myself, and have determined in my heart, with the Lord's help, not to do that again. Obeying God, by submitting and yielding to my husband, is much more preferable to me than having my own way, and then feeling ashamed when I sin that way again.

Honoring our Husbands

Honoring my husband is something I've been thinking about alot in recent weeks. I admit that in the past I've done more than my share of dishonoring my husband to others, and am ashamed of it. I repented of that some time ago, and am seeking ways that I can honor him. It's a shame that I didn't learn this until I was in my 40's. One of my prayers is that by the time my daughters get married, they will have learned the importance of honoring their husbands, and speaking well of him to others through my example, however imperfectly I am at doing that sometimes.

The Amplified Version of 1 Peter 3:2 says it this way:

1 Peter 3:2
When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him--to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband].

I don't know if it's because I've been thinking about the issue of honoring my husband lately, but I've become more aware when wives dishonor their husbands to others, whether it be over the Internet, by phone, or face to face. It's something that bothers me a great deal.

Pro 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. (KJV)

Pro 14:1 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. (ESV)

The foolish woman tears her house down, and one way she does that is through dishonoring her husband. Several years ago when I was in my 30's, an older woman was talking to me about her husband, and added "that stupid Jack." At the time, I knew little to nothing about my role as a wife to my husband. But that comment disturbed me, and with that one comment, the respect I had for this lady disappeared. She was well into her 60's, and I never thought about her the same again.

Pro 12:4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.

Which type of wife do we want to be? An excellent wife, one who is a crown to her husband, or one who brings him shame? A wife who builds her house, or one who tears it down with our words, and actions?

I want to publicly thank my husband for being a hard worker, and for being faithful. He works hard so that we can have a roof over our heads, food to eat, and a bed to sleep in. When times have been tough financially, he has worked two jobs so that I could stay at home, and take care of our home, and train our daughters. He's easy going, nothing ruffles his feathers, which is unlike me since I tend to let things distress me. He opens car doors for me, as well as other doors. We celebrated our 18th year of marriage on October 24th, and I can say that I am blessed, and pray that we have many more years together.

Something funny

I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, but for the past couple of months, we've had some things going on here that were mentally exhausting. Besides that, our new school year began in late August, and it has been hectic since then. I've been trying to get into a routine with a tenth grader and fourth grader this year. I think we have finally gotten all of that down pat.

My tenth grader had to write something for grammar, and it had to be in chronological order. This is what she wrote:

"This is the way to be annoying: first you decide who you want to annoy. Then you pick one of three things. Blow in their face, get in the way of what they are doing, or ask a question several times even if you get an answer. Once you get tired of doing one thing, try another one. If you get tired of being annoying, go do something else. I certainly hope this was helpful to you."

When my son (father of our new granddaughter) was younger, he used to blow in the face of one of my brothers, and annoyed my brother to no end. My son then taught his middle sister to blow in faces too, and she was just as annoying to that same uncle.

Bill, if you are reading this - look what you have to look forward to - teaching Hailey how to blow in her father's face, hehehe.

Today my grandmother would have been 109 years old. She passed away in December, 1985. The only time she ever yelled at us, that I can remember, was when Bill and I were young, and he was pushing me real fast in a rocking chair down in the cellar. Growing up, she never seemed to age. I still miss her.

She's Here!!!!!!

We are the proud grandparents of Hailey Elizabeth, born today, September 17th, 2007 around 5:10 PM. She is absolutely beautiful. She weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz., and has a full head of black hair.

A Giveaway from Tim at Challies

In the month of September, Tim from Challies is having a giveaway for the below.

If you click on that, you can enter yourself in the drawing. My referral ID number is 10564. So, if you click on the below, if you haven't entered already, I would appreciate it if you would put that referral number. Thanks!

Various things

I posted here about trying to find someone who was looking for my family. One night out of boredom, I typed in my grandfather's name and came across a post from April, 2000 from someone looking for him and his brothers and sisters.

To make a long story short, I did find her, and we talked on the phone the other night for over an hour. Our mothers were 1st cousins, which makes the two of us, 2nd cousins. We're five months apart in age, with me being the oldest of the two. It's been an exciting time.

While the above was happening, we started out new school year on Monday, the 27th. We have the best home school week we have ever had. It was a joy and a pleasure teaching my daughters, and learning the things that we did this week. God answered my prayers in abundance.

This year, after much prayer for guidance and direction, I have been able to come up with a plan as to how to work with both daughters. One is in 10th grade, the other is in 4th, and it has been difficult to work with my younger because it seemed to distract the older one. I have discovered that I can work with my younger one, and while she is doing her written work, I work with my older one on the more difficult subjects. I'm thankful to the Lord for showing me how to work all of this out. I am thankful to Him for the privilege of home schooling our daughters.

We've had a very busy week with home schooling, but for me, it has been well worth it this week. I have had only a little time to do what *I* want to do, like reading blogs, being on the computer for any length of time.

And, what I have discovered from taking the 12 week Seize the Summer challenge is this - how much I had been living for myself rather than my family, and how that brings me little joy, if any. I have been making an effort to die to myself, and what I want to do. I'm not always successful, but I find that when I put my family first, before the things I want to do, I am content. It isn't always easy to do, but I'm learning that I am satisfied when I do put them first, and my own desires after that.

I've become aware of how much I put my own agenda ahead of my husband's. Because I am a his help meet, his needs and desires should come first, ahead of mine. This morning when I woke up, I had things that *I* needed to do, like plan for school next week for both girls, versus what I know my husband *wanted* from me, like me to make homemade chocolate chip cookies. Although I didn't bake the chocolate chip cookies (because I'm planning to do them with my younger daughter tomorrow afternoon when my older daughter is not home), I was more aware that I needed to put my plans on the back burner to serve my husband.

Lastly, within the next ten days, I expect to be posting the news that our granddaughter has arrived!

Utah Miners

Since August 6th, there have been six miners trapped in a mine in Utah. They may never be able to get to them, and it's such a sad situation. I cannot imagine what their families are going through.

It's caused me to appreciate my husband more than ever. He is an electrician, and I take for granted that he will come home safely at the end of the day. He works commercial rather than residential, and the reality is that his line of work is dangerous. I appreciate all of his hard work, and he is a hard worker. He rarely gets sick, but when he does, he goes to work, and works hard. The reality though is that no matter what a person's job is, or their age, death is no respecter of persons.

I've been following the Utah miner situation since the beginning, and it has caused me to do a lot of thinking. It just reinforces to me that none of us are guaranteed another day of life, or that we will take another breath. We assume our loved ones are always going to be there, that they will come home at the end of the day, but that doesn't always happen. I'm sure those miners believed they would work their scheduled hours and go home to their families. They didn't know they wouldn't come out alive. It's sobering to think about.

As a Christian, I trust God that whatever comes my way each day, He will see me through it. I have that hope because I am saved by grace alone, through faith alone, and through Christ alone, all to the glory of God. I was a lost sinner, dead in my trespasses sins with no hope in this world.

Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

Ephesians 2:2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Ephesians 2:3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Ephesians 2:6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 2:7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Ephesians 2:9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, and the wages for sin is death.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As a Christian, I believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

1 Corinthians 15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,

1 Corinthians 15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

1 Corinthians 15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

1 Corinthians 15:8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

1 Corinthians 15:11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

To those who are lost, I pray that God will open your eyes to the truth and grant you the faith to believe and trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life. The only hope for sinners is Jesus Christ, and trusting in Him for eternal life, trusting in His death, burial, and resurrection. Trusting that He alone can save you from your sins through His shed blood, which was shed for sinners.

Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

Colossians 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, let us never take our loved ones for granted. Let's not forget to tell them how much we love and appreciate them.

My prayers are with the families of the miners.

12 Week Challenge is Almost Over

This summer I took the challenge from Christa to "Seize the Summer." The twelve weeks will end on September 1st. For me, it's been a very challenging twelve weeks, but a good one. There was some confusion on my part on an issue regarding my role as a wife, but I believe that's been cleared up.

I wish I could say that I have it all down pat, I submit perfectly, and that I always respect my husband, but I can't. I'm still a work in progress, and the Lord continues to work in me both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

Philippians 2:12 "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Philippians 2:13 "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

We've been married for almost 18 years, and it's only been within the past few years that I have begun to understand exactly what my role is. With me being 49 years old, you would think that I would be further along in this than I am, but alas, I am not. One book that helped me tremendously in understanding what marriage is to be is Martha Peace's book, The Excellent Wife. Until I read that book, I had not understood that marriage is to be a reflection of Christ and the Church. That seems to have made a big impact on me, and these past few months have caused me to be more focused as to how I can truly be a help meet to my husband. Go over to Christa's blog, she is reviewing Martha's book on Wednesdays.

I have so far to go, yet I thank the Lord that He is still working in me. I thank Him that He is changing the desires of my heart, especially as a wife.

With each passing day I see more and more how dependent upon the Lord I am. He shows me the areas I need to grow in, and along with that, He gives me the desire to grow in that same area. As the mother of two daughters, and one of them a teen, I see the huge responsibility I have to teach them how to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands.

Titus 2:3 "Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,

Titus 2:4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,

Titus 2:5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled."

The King James Version uses a much stronger word than reviled. This is what verse 5 says in the KJV:

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

"That the word of God be not blasphemed." That's pretty strong language to me.

My prayer is that the Lord would draw me closer to Himself, and that He would develop within me a meek and quiet spirit.

1 Peter 3: 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

soaringcardinal/John and Eleanor Skrensky

This post is going to be an unusual one. The other night, out of sheer boredom, I decided to do a Google search on my maternal grandfather's name. Much to my surprise, I came a cross a post on a forum from someone that was written way back in April, 2000 who was looking for the family of John and Eleanor Skrensky. She posted for her grandmother, who is trying to find her family. She said it would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Her grandmother is the youngest daughter of one of my grandfather's brothers, or sisters.

The person who posted is no longer on that forum, and I am praying she will one day do another search, and my blog will come up. I was shocked to see her post, and excited at the same time.

So, if you're out there somewhere, leave a comment so I can get in touch with you!

Streams in the Desert - August 2, 2007

I hope the below is as much of an encouragement to someone as it was to me.

Classic Streams in the Desert

Make a Way by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman

"I will make all my mountains a way" (Isa.49:11).

God will make obstacles serve His purpose. We all have mountains in our lives. There are people and things that threaten to bar our progress in the Divine life. Those heavy claims, that uncongenial occupation, that thorn in the flesh, that daily cross--we think that if only these were removed we might live purer, tenderer, holier lives; and often we pray for their removal.

"Oh, fools, and slow of heart!" These are the very conditions of achievement; they have been put into our lives as the means to the very graces and virtues for which we have been praying so long. Thou hast prayed for patience through long years, but there is something that tries thee beyond endurance; thou hast fled from it, evaded it, accounted it an unsurmountable obstacle to the desired attainment, and supposed that its removal would secure thy immediate deliverance and victory.

Not so! Thou wouldest gain only the cessation of temptations to impatience. But this would not be patience. Patience can be acquired only through just such trials as now seem unbearable.

Go back; submit thyself. Claim to be a partaker in the patience of Jesus. Meet thy trials in Him. There is nothing in life which harasses and annoys that may not become subservient to the highest ends. They are His mountains. He puts them there. We know that God will not fail to keep His promise. "God understandeth the way thereof and knoweth the place thereof. For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven"; and when we come to the foot of the mountains, we shall find the way.--Christ in Isaiah, by Meyer

"The meaning of trial is not only to test worthiness, but to increase it; as the oak is not only tested by the storm, but toughened by them."

Streams in the Desert - July 30, 2007

I came across the devotional from Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles Cowman this evening. Though I was rebuked while reading it, it was a reminder to me that I need to get out of myself. I do have cards I could send to those who are hurting, letters to write to my mother in law, and to the only aunt I have left, who has been a widow since 1969. I have an elderly widow who lives next door to me too.

Here is what I copied from the Back to the Bible site, and I hope it is helpful to someone else:

A cup of cold water only (Matt. 10:42).

What am I to do? I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good work, therefore, any kindness, or any service I can render to any soul of man or animal let me do it now. Let me not neglect or defer it, for I shall not pass this way again. --An Old Quaker Saying

It isn't the thing you do, dear,
It's the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you the bitter heartache
At the setting of the sun;
The tender word unspoken,
The letter you did not write,
The flower you might have sent, dear,
Are your haunting ghosts at night.

The stone you might have lifted
Out of your brother's way,
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were hurried too much to say;
The loving touch of the hand, dear,
The gentle and winsome tone,
That you had no time or thought for,
With troubles enough of your own.

These little acts of kindness,
So easily out of mind,
These chances to be angels,
Which even mortals find
They come in night and silence,
Each chill reproachful wraith,
When hope is faint and flagging,
And a blight has dropped on faith.

For life is all too short, dear.
And sorrow is all too great,
To suffer our slow compassion
That tarries until too late.
And it's not the thing you do, dear,
It's the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you the bitter heartache,
At the setting of the sun.
--Adelaide Proctor

Give what you have; to someone it may be better than you dare to think. --Longfellow

I do know that God is sovereign, and I have never lost sight of that. It's just that I've been struggling with these certain things, and I have to trust God through it all. I will come out of this stressful time, and work through these things that are confusing to me.

Ladies, Your Thoughts Please

I've been struggling with some things for the past few weeks, along with not feeling very well, and that is why I haven't posted lately.

I'm still studying, and pondering about biblical manhood, biblical womanhood, and our roles as wives, mothers, and homemakers. During the course of this study, I came across a review of the book, Created to be His Helpmeet, by Debi Pearl. I read this book about four years ago, and loaned it to someone and never got it back. The quote below, which is found on page 260, has been bothering me since I read the review. This is one of those kinds of books that you either love it, or you hate it. I've read different blogs online, both pros and cons, about the book. There are some very good blogs out there regarding this book. Read the below for me, and let me know what your thoughts are on it.

"You can freely call your husband "lord" when you know that you are addressing the one who put him in charge and asked you to suffer at your husbands hands just as the Lord suffered at the hands of unjust authorities."

"The chain of authority must never be broken, even if it means allowing some abuse."

"first know that a husband has authority to tell his wife what to wear, where to go, whom to talk to, how to spend her time, when to speak or not to, even if he is unreasonable and insensitive."

These three quotes were in the same paragraph (I saw a copy of it at a Lifeway store here), but I think there may have been some other words between those three sentences above. So I am not sure what came after the second sentence about the abuse.

All three of the statements bother me, but the last one is the one I've been thinking about lately, and they disturb me.

I know that the husband is to be a servant/leader and the above just doesn't sit well with me. I do understand that we are to submit to our husbands unless they ask us to sin.

There are different viewpoints out there on submission which conflict one another. I am a complementarian, which suggests equality and beneficial differences between men and women. Although I do like Martha Peace, and her book, The Excellent Wife, I disagree with her view that it's okay to rebuke and correct our husbands. Here is a good article by Wayne Grudem that I found on mutual submission, and I held to this same viewpoint before I read his article.

I'm planning to discuss this with my pastor. I know that I've got unbiblical thinking somewhere in my thought process, and it's causing me undue stress because I'm not sure if what I believe is biblically correct on something. I don't mean that I am doubting my position as a complementarian, I'm not. I'm just confused as to the extent of a husband's rule over his wife I guess.

Anybody else have any thoughts about this?

5 Random Questions Meme

Baxter kindly tagged me for a meme, and here are the questions, and my answers:

1. What is your most cherished memory as a child?

Hopefully a 15 yr. old is still considered a child, :). I have two older brothers, and my oldest brother was married. They always spent Christmas Eve with us, and stayed the night. A couple of weeks before Christmas, my mother put four boxes, all the same size, with my brothers, sister in law, and my name on them. I could not figure out what in the world she had gotten all four of us that was the same. I mean, what can you get that is generic, for both men and women? The suspense was killing me. Finally Christmas Day came and we all had to open our boxes at the same time. She had bought all four of us Beach Boys tickets. It was the first Beach Boys concert I had ever attended, and she had gotten us the best seats with the best view. I've been a Beach Boys fan ever since. It was so special to me because she had to go to the Sports Arena in San Diego to get the tickets, and she didn't like to drive.

2. What is the most interesting thing you have ever done?

I did volunteer work with our local Sheriff's Department for about a year and worked in Victim's Assistance. It was something I really enjoyed, but had to stop doing when I had my daughter. It would be something I'd jump at the chance to do again if I had the opportunity.

3. If you could have or do one seemingly impossible thing, what would it be?

I would move back to San Diego, CA in a heartbeat. We moved from there in December, 1978 when my brother couldn't find a teaching job in CA. My mother was very upset because he and his wife had a two year old son, my parents only grandchild at the time, and she didn't want them moving so far away. So, we all quit our jobs and moved to the East Coast, somewhere in the Southeast. I haven't been back there since we moved, and unless our ship comes in, I'll never even get back there to even visit.

4. What is the most meaningful gift you have ever received?

The most meaningful gift I ever received was the book Scarlett by my son. I broke my wrist on Thanksgiving in 1991, and was in alot of pain. I was a word processor at the time and couldn't work for awhile. So, Garrett bought me the book Scarlett for Christmas, and when I broke my wrist he told me he was giving it to me earlier so that I would have something to do while I was at home. I thought he was so thoughtful, and he was only 13 years old at the time. What made this more special to me is that technically he is my stepson, and it meant alot to me.

5. What is the most difficult thing you have ever had to do?

By far the most difficult thing I have ever had to do was to leave my newborn baby behind in the hospital five days after I delivered her. She was premature and had to spend three weeks in the NICU.

I'm not sure who to tag.

Blogger Reflection Award Nominations

Jen at JoythruChrist has honoured me with a Blogger Reflection Award. This is an honor, and an encouragement to know that I am blessing another person with what I write.

The reason for the title is because this award should make you reflect on five bloggers who have been an encouragement, a source of love, impacted you in some way, and have been a Godly example to you. Five Bloggers who when you reflect on them you get a sense of pride and joy... of knowing them and being blessed by them.

Kim at The Upward Call - Kim's blog was the first one that I ever read. I don't even remember how I got there. Her blog is the first one I read, and pretty much read it on a daily basis, except Sundays. She posts so many things that cause me to think, and that I learn from. I also enjoy reading about her beagle, I've gotten quite a few laughs from those stories.

Lisa at Deo Volente - I found her blog through Kim's. Her blog is another one that I read regularly. She has a heart for the Lord, and such a passion for the truth. She has always been such an encouragement to me.

Christa at Blakey Blog - Christa is a young woman, and has alot of profound things to say. She is a wonderful example of a godly young woman. I especially like her book reviews.

Lydia, and the others at the Purple Cellar - I like this blog which posts on a variety of biblical topics, because the posts are always where the rubber meets the road. Although many times I am convicted when reading them.

BKeen - This online friend of mine doesn't have a blog, but I could not go without mentioning her. I have learned so much from her, and she has been such an encouragement to me. She doesn't shy away from telling it like it is when I ask for her advice. She always brings me back to the Scriptures. Now if I could only get her to like the *real* cheese (that would be Velveeta). She always sends such good emails too, ones that literally make you laugh out loud.

I know Jen nominated me, but I have to include her as well. Her blog is another one that I read on a (usually) daily basis. She has a good sense of humor, and I especially enjoy her posts about the book by D. Martin Lloyd-Jones.

I don't really know who else to tag because it looks like those I would have tagged have already been tagged. Thank you Jen for nominating me.

Random thoughts on men/women/worth - LONG

One of the reasons for taking this summer to study biblical manhood and womanhood, and the roles of a husband and wife in marriage is due to my past. I feel that I need to find out all that God has to say on the topic, and then change my way of thinking to conform with the truths of Scripture. I've got quite a ways to go. I need to give you some background before I go any further because it will help you understand some of what I'm going to write about.

I was married before when I was in my early 20's and one thing that has always been in the back of mind was something that my ex husband told me about 23 years ago. He told me that Adam named Eve that because she was evil. He may have been joking, I don't know, but his view of women during those years was that we were inferior to males. His view came from a particular sin he had in his life that was demeaning to women, and one that doesn't see women as persons, but objects instead. He apologized to me a few years ago for how he treated me in the past, and took the blame for my feelings of inferiority, and said I felt that way because of how he treated me. My view of myself was based on how he treated me, rather than who I was in Christ. When we were together I was not saved, so I didn't have the truth to know truth from error about it.

In addition to the above, I read a book on marriage a few years ago that caused much damage to me emotionally. This was before I became reformed, and before I had ever heard of Nouthetic Counseling. It reinforced those feelings of inferiority that I had, and did nothing but make me feel condemned. I read it during a time when everything seemed to be falling apart around me.

I mention the book only because a quote from it came to my mind while I was reading Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood this morning. I'm reading chapter two, and this morning the section I was reading was talking about a husband's role, and how it's a leadership/servanthood role. Here was the question that was asked, it's question number 14 on page 59, and the answer given which caused me to think of the book I mentioned above:

QUESTION:

14. If the husband is to treat his wife as Christ does the church, does that mean he
should govern all the details of her life and that she should clear all her actions with him?

ANSWER:

No. We may not press the analogy between Christ and the husband that far. Unlike Christ, all husbands sin. They are finite and fallible in their wisdom. Not only that, but also, unlike Christ, a husband is not preparing a bride merely for himself, but also for another, namely, Christ. He does not merely act as Christ, he also acts for Christ. At this point he must not be Christ to his wife, lest he be a traitor to Christ. He must lead in such a way that his wife is encouraged to depend on Christ and not on himself. Practically, that rules out belittling supervision and fastidious oversight. Even when acting as Christ, the husband must remember that Christ does not lead the church as His daughter, but as His wife. He is preparing her to be a “fellow-heir,” not a servant girl (Romans 8:17). Any kind of leadership that, in the name of Christlike headship, tends to foster in a wife personal immaturity or spiritual weakness or insecurity through excessive control, picky supervision, or oppressive domination has missed the
point of the analogy in Ephesians 5. Christ does not create that kind of wife.

By reading Martha Peace's book, The Excellent Wife I now understand that a marriage represents Christ and the Church. I am now beginning to understand even more that the husband's role is one of leadership/servanthood. It helped to clear that up for me, as I did have many questions because of people who hold the below view. This is a quote from the book I mentioned above. When I am able to verify the page number that this quote is found on, and that it actually came from that particular book, I might post the name of the book. Here is the quote:

"first know that a husband has authority to tell his wife what to wear, where to go, whom to talk to, how to spend her time, when to speak or not to, even if he is unreasonable and insensitive."

That quote bothers me, and now I know why. It bothers me because it treats the wife as though she is a child, even worse because at least an older child chooses what they wear within boundaries. It bothers me because there is no leadership/servanthood there but rather control and domination.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Ephesians 5:26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Ephesians 5:27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Ephesians 5:29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,

Ephesians 5:30 because we are members of his body.

Those verses don't sound like control and domination to me.

Back to Normal/Wasting Time

I think I am finally back on track with posting now. Whew, am I glad the performances are over and we can get back to living our lives again. I have missed posting, and reading my favorite blogs. I've been off track for so long now that I'm not even sure where to begin.

During these past couple of months I've been doing a lot of thinking on how I spend my time, and how much of it I actually waste. I'm thankful my daughters were given a part in the play for several reasons. The main reason is that it has helped me rethink my priorities in the sense of causing me to reflect on what is really important. Not just important, but what is important to God. As a good friend likes to remind me "it's not about YOU," and said friend knows who she is :)

We spent five nights each week at the theater for nearly two months, which meant that we had to rush through supper, and cleaning up in order to get their at a certain time. We no longer had time to enjoy our meal at our own pace, and no time in the evenings for reading aloud. It was rush, rush, rush for five days each week.

Is how we spend our time really important to God? I believe it is important. I was listening to a CD the other day called Twenty-Four Hours is All You Get, by Susan Bradrick, which can be bought here. It reinforced to me what I believed the Lord was teaching me through the Scriptures.

Ephesians 5:15-17 says this:

Verse 15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,

Verse 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Verse 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

The phrase "making the most of your time" was a tad bit convicting. Okay, well maybe not a tad bit, a better word would be alot. It is far too easy for me to waste my time on things that have no eternal value, on things that are essentially worthless. As a stay at home wife and mother, I have plenty to keep me busy. I have daughters to teach what is good, to train them on how to love their husbands, their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, and how to be submit to their husbands. I am to teach them how to do those things, how to live it out so that, and this is very heavy, the Word of God is not dishonored.

Titus 2:3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,

Titus 2:4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

Titus 2 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

If I do all that I am to do as a wife and mother, I have no time to waste on things that have no eternal value. As my favorite verse says:

2 Corinthians 5:9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

One goal I have is to consistently apply that verse in my life. If my aim is to please Him at all times, am I pleasing Him when I waste my time on frivilous things? When I waste my time on the computer when I should be training my daughters, or managing my home I am not pleasing Him. I want to remember that this life is short, none of us know when He will call us home. In the time I have left to live my life, I want my life to glorify Him in all I say and do.

A Restaurant Meme

Lisa from Blakey Blog tagged me for a fun food meme, here are the rules:

1. Link to name of person that tagged you.
2. Include state and country you live in.
3. List top 5 favorite local restaurants.
4. Tag 5 other people and let them know they’ve been tagged.

I live in South Carolina.

My favorite restaurants are:

1. Fatz Cafe - this is our favorite place to eat. Their prices are reasonable, the service is good, and it has a nice family atmosphere.

2. Longhorn Steakhouse - we've only been there one time, but they had the best steaks. Someone had given us a gift certificate from there, and it was out of our price range, so we haven't been back there since. They had good service too.

3. Ruby Tuesday's - They are reasonably priced, and have good food.

4. Ryan's Steakhouse - Our favorite thing about Ryan's is their yeast rolls.

5. Bojangles - This is a fast food restaurant whose speciality is chicken. Out of all the restaurants in our city, they have the best iced tea.

As far as who to tag, I'm not sure yet. I don't know anyone from my area who has a blog.

Hilarious Joke

I'm not one to pass on jokes, much less post them on my blog. But this one is the exception. A good friend of mine online sent it to me, and last night I couldn't go to sleep for a long time because I was laughing so hard remembering it. I was laughing so hard, and so long that my oldest daughter yelled out to me to shhhhhh. I hope it makes you laugh too. I do hope nobody will be offended. I don't advocate drinking, I just thought this was too funny not to pass on.

A man and his wife were awakened at 3:00 am by a loud pounding on the door. The man gets up and goes to the door where a drunken stranger, standing in the pouring rain, is asking for a push.

"Not a chance," says the husband, "it is 3:00 in the morning!" He slams the door and returns to bed.
"Who was that?" asked his wife. "Just some drunk guy asking for a push," he answers. "Did you help him?" she asks. "No, I did not, it is 3:00 in the morning and it is pouring rain out there!"

"Well, you have a short memory," says his wife. "Can't you remember about three months ago when we broke down, and those two guys helped us? I think you should help him, and you should be ashamed of yourself!"

The man does as he is told, gets dressed, and goes out into the pounding rain. He calls out into the dark, "Hello, are you still there?" "Yes," comes back the answer. "Do you still need a push?" calls out the husband. "Yes, please!" comes the reply from the dark. "Where are you?" asks the husband.

"Over here on the swing," replied the drunk.

Wives and Submission

I mentioned in May that I was putting my study of Pink's The Attributes of God on hold for the time being while I study biblical womanhood, and the roles between husbands and wives. The timing of the study has worked out well because Christa threw out a challenge to us here not to waste our summer. I committed myself here to becoming more faithful in my calling as a wife and mother.

This morning I was studying several passage but this one stood out to me:

Ephesians 5:21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

Ephesians 5:24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Ephesians 5:26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Ephesians 5:27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Ephesians 5:29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,

Ephesians 5:30 because we are members of his body.

Ephesians 5:31 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."

Ephesians 5:32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. (NASB - the above verses were quoted from the ESV).

Out of this passage, there were three verses that popped out at me. The first one was this verse:

Ephesians 5:21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

This is a verse I hear quoted most often when discussing the issue of submission. Many fail to read further on where it explicity states wives are to submit to their own husbands as to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

It goes on to state the reason why:

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

The verses following verse 21 show us what each person's role is within the family. Just as in the workplace there cannot be two heads, there cannot be two heads in a household either. There must be a leader. And God has placed our husbands in that leadership position, while we as wives are to follow in submission. This is not always an easy thing to do, and I have certainly not gotten this down pat, but it is the BIBLICAL way. I find that when I trust the Lord, and rest in my husband's decisions, or when he tells me not to worry about something, I have so much more peace. I tend to worry about silly little things like if we are going to make it somewhere on time, or if we have enough time to do this or that. When I submit to his advice, there is such peace inside, and I can relax.

Another comment brought up is the issue of physical abuse. If there is PHYSICAL abuse occurring, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, AND FIND A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.

These roles have their root in creation: 1 Corinthians 11:3-16, Ephesians 5:21-33, and 1st Timothy 2:11-14.

The other statement that is always made is "I'll submit to him when he starts loving me as Christ loved the Church." Well, that isn't what this verse says, nor will you find that anywhere else in Scripture.

Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

We are to respect our husbands, and submit to them whether they are fulfilling their role or not. We are to individually fulfill our calling, our role as stated above, there are no loopholes, nor outs. Each one of us is to fulfill our roles regardless of what the other person does or does not do.

Lisa recommended a book to me called Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, and I second that recommendation. It can be read free online here.

Our calling is not an easy one, but I think it is an easier one than the role God gave our husbands. For those of us in a two parent household, we don't have the burden of having to lead our families, or of having to provide for them.

I pray that we will embrace this high calling as wives, and mothers.

God's Providence

Last night was the first performance for the cast of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and they did a great job. Even better than the performance was something that happened afterwards when we were out in the lobby that reinforced to me that God orchestrates everything in our lives.

This story begins nine years ago. I posted on my younger daughter's birthday about her premature birth here. That day my husband met a man in the NICU who had twin boys on May 19th, which is my birthday. One baby weighed one pound, the other a pound and a half. The baby who weighed one pound went home to be with the Lord on the day that Brooke was born. My husband spent alot of time talking with the father because they were always there in the hospital together. We haven't seen them in nine years, and every year on our birthdays, and really more often than that, we have thought about the baby and wondered how he and his family were doing.

After the performance last night we were walking down the aisle towards the lobby when an older man stopped us and told Brooke that she did a great job. As we were having refreshments, I noticed the same man standing nearby so I started talking to him. He told me his grandson was in the play and was playing the part of Augustus Gloop. He pointed to someone and said that he was the father. The father came over and as we were talking I thought his voice sounded familiar, and that he kind of looked like the father of the twins from nine years ago. Since I'm not shy about asking questions at times, I asked him if he had a nephew who was premature. He said no but his son was, and pointed to Augustus' brother. I said "aha! we know you!" It turns out that this was the baby born two days before Brooke, and the very little boy my husband and I were talking about the other night!!

I don't believe in odds, or chances, nor even coincidences, but what are the odds of that happening? When things like this happen, and it has happened to me twice before this, it so clearly shows me that GOD ALONE orchestrates EVERY single detail in our lives, right down to something like that.......having each person there in the right spot. It never ceases to amaze me when I see God's hand so clearly working in my life like that.

It reinforces to me that NOTHING happens by chance, or coincidence. God IS ruling this world and IS working ALL things out after the counsel of HIS will.

Ephesians 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

Isaiah 46:9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,

Isaiah 46:10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'

Isaiah 46:11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.

Performance tonight of Willy Wonka

Tonight will be the cast's first night with an audience for the play, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. This evening they are performing for a childrens' home so it is a benefit, and most of the proceeds will go towards the childrens' home. My husband and I will be helping downstairs with keeping the Oompa Loompa's quiet, and getting them on stage at the right time.

This is such a fun play, and all the cast members do a great job. They have the parents and the grandparents being played by ages ranging from 11 1/2 to around 17 or 18 years old. My favorite seen involves the parents and grandparents of Charlie. The grandparents are in bed asleep and snoring, and Charlie's father wakes them up by talking, and they all jump.

The play runs this weekend, June 15th - June 17th, and again next weekend, June 22nd - June 24th.

I'm hoping to take a picture of Brooke in her Oompa Loompa costume, but I'm not sure it will work. I have to use my cell phone to do it, and I'm not sure yet how to email the picture to myself.

If you would keep us in your prayers, I would appreciate it. Pray that Brooke won't get any headaches during this time especially.

One thing that I thought was cute was when Brooke, and another little girl asked where they needed to stand if anyone wanted their autographs.

Seize the Summer

Christa has a great post on not wasting our summer. Because I can waste so much of my time on insignificant things, I've committed myself to being, or becoming, more faithful in my calling as a wife and mother. I came across this verse this morning, and it convicted me to do better in this area:

1 Timothy 3:11 "Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things."

Christa has also been doing reviews on Martha Peace's The Excellent Wife book every Wednesday. I encourage you to check it out. I had considered reading it again because it was so good, and I will sometime in the future, but I just ordered Helper by Design, by Elyse Fitzpatrick, so I plan on doing that study instead.

I've just finished my coffee, and now it's time to get back to work, and to the commitment I have made.

Elinor Dashwood

Take the Quiz here!

I found this quiz over at Jen's blog, and admittedly, it's quite accurate.

Baptism story continued

Yesterday I gave a little background as to why my husband and I were both baptised again. Today I'm going to share what it meant to me.

This baptism issue has been on my mind alot lately because it's been a topic of discussion for months now on a voice chat program that I go on. I am a credo baptist, which means I believe in believer's baptism only. It's not something that I would ever divide over, in fact, our pastor and his wife have a son who is a Presbyterian pastor. And their son preaches at our conferences. Being baptised on Sunday only added to my conviction that the Bible teaches believers baptism only. Before we were baptised, my pastor read several Scriptures.

As I stood there waiting for the others to get their robes on, I was filled with joy. I was filled with joy because I was following the Lord in obedience, making a public confession, and being raised up to new life. It was such a special time for me even though I probably embarrassed myself because, being the first one baptised, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. So, to keep myself from going under I held my nose from the beginning, lol. My embarrassement didn't lessen the joy I felt.

Baptised! A little background first

Yesterday was a special day for our family because my husband and I were both baptised! We had both been baptised before but both as unbelievers. My husband was raised Roman Catholic, and was baptised as a child without faith, therefore his baptism was invalid and he wanted to be baptised again, but this time as a believer. I was not raised in a Christian home, though my dad was raised Methodist, and my mom was raised Roman Catholic.

To give you a little background as to why I wanted to be rebaptised, I was baptised for all of the wrong reasons, with the main one being that I was an unbeliever.

In 1984 I had "prayed the sinner's prayer" with a lady I worked with at the time whose husband was a pastor, and was born again, or so I thought. The truth is I made a false profession back then. There was little evidence of my being a believer. I lacked the new nature, I had no love for the Lord, nor a love for His Word. I did the same things as a professing believer that I did as a non believer.

In 1985, my first husband and I seperated, and divorced the next year. I was working for attorneys at the time, and one of them recommended a Baptist church to me. I was baptised there in 1986. The only reason I was baptised then was to join the church. I could not become a member unless I was baptised. I didn't even go to church for the right reasons. I went so I could be in the singles group, and have fun. I did have a lot of fun, but as a lost sinner, dead in my trespasses and sins.

I remarried in October of 1989, and we started going to a Methodist church, joined there, and remained there for about two years. During that time I was working for a bank, and a coworker of mine was going to an Assemblies of God. It seemed real lively to me when we visited, and she talked to me about all those dead churches out there that had no life. At that time, neither my husband nor I cared much about doctrine, and we still didn't know we were lost. We were there for ten years, and it was while at that church I started watching TBN, and between TBN and the Assemblies of God, I became charismatic in my theology, though I was still lost. I had a god of my own making, a god who was there to serve me, rather than I being on this earth to glorify Him, and to enjoy Him forever. During our time at the Assemblies of God, the church changed pastors, and it went from bad to worse. We left there and began going to a Calvary Chapel. We were there for five years, and circumstances led me to leave there a year before my husband did.

Three years ago, the Lord began working in my heart through my younger daughter's illness, and it wasn't long afterwards that I could do nothing else but surrender my life to the Lord. He showed me there was nothing good in me, and that I needed a Savior. Not only did I become born again while I was still at Calvary Chapel, but I came to the realization, through the study of Scripture, that I was a Calvinist. I no longer had a god of my own making, I was finally serving the true and Living God.

Looking back, it amazes me to see God's hand my life throughout the years, even those years when I didn't know Him. I could write page after page of how He has orchestrated things in my life and led me to Him. Instead of writing page after page about it, let me share this one thing.

I've posted before about the health scare we had with our youngest daughter here, and at the time both of our daughters were playing softball. One of the coaches asked if he could add her name to the prayer list at his church, we told him yes and she was added. Fast forward from March, 2003 to March 2005. I left the church we had been going to before my husband did. I visited a Reformed Baptist church in March, 2005 that an online friend had found for me. I began attending there, and the pastor traveled, and when he did, he had another pastor come to our church to preach. As soon as I saw this other pastor I knew immediately I had seen him somewhere but couldn't remember where. For about 8 months I wondered where I knew him from. When my husband began attending, and this pastor was there, my husband also recognized him. In fact, when this pastor saw my husband, his eyes lit up like he recognized him too. After a little while, as we began talking about it, it dawned on us that we knew him from softball.

In August, 2006 my husband and I joined the Reformed Baptist church we were attending, and because we didn't have a valid baptism, we chose to be baptised again. Because our church does not have a baptismal pool, we use the church of the pastor who preaches when our pastor is out of town. After we were baptised, and the service was over, we saw the guy from March, 2003 who had asked us if his church could pray for our daughter! So this church had been praying for our daughter for four years, and here He brought us to this church to be baptised in. I stand in awe at how the Lord orchestrates our lives, and how He has planned every little detail, and each and every thing in our lives. That is such a comforting thought!

This is such a long post, I will either post later this afternoon about the baptism itself, or will wait until tomorrow since this was longer than I intended it to be.