Category: Misc.

I told you so…..

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Some things you just don’t want to be right about.

Back in June I wrote a blog called, “An Obamanation”. In it I warned that things were going to get worse and that if the Lord tarried then our children and grandchildren would witness terribly inmoral things in this country. The reason I said this is because I believe Scripture and in Leviticus Chapter 20 God deals with adultery, then homosexuality and then bestiality. We’ve seen adultery run rampant for several generations and now we are witnessing for ourselves the abomination of homosexuality being forced upon us. So logically what is next?

Today I received an action alert from American Family Association. Here is what it said.

Fox network inserts bestiality into family programming Urgent: File a formal complaint today with the FCC!

The Fox broadcast network featured bestiality on the program American Dad that aired over your public airwaves on Sunday night, January 3rd. But that’s not the worst of it. The network chose one of the most popular animated children’s programs (according to the Parents Television Council) to spew their toxic perversion and sickening content. Keep in mind that this program’s popularity ranges primarily from children 2-11 years old.

 I wish this was an issue that could be ignored. It sickens me to even think about it. But the truth is that if we ignore it than the victory will be given to the workers of darkness. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (Eph 5:11) We better start waking up. We better start reading our Bibles. And we better stop being complacent and start standing up for righteousness. I guess I was wrong in one way. I was naïve enough to believe that it would be the next few generations that would have to deal with this but it looks like it will be mine.

 “Oh Lord Jesus how long? How long? Ere we shout the glad song, Christ returneth, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen!”

Gift Giving

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Tis the season for malls, shopping, wrapping paper, gifts, bows, and ribbons.  Maybe you prefer online shopping in your bathrobe with the internet, eBay and UPS.  Or perhaps you prefer handmade gifts, baked goodies and homemade cards.  But no matter how you look at it this is the season for gift giving.  Why?  Most people probably give out of tradition.  You are supposed to buy gifts at Christmas.  It is what has always been done.  However, our family likes to look at gift giving a little differently.  While it is a tradition at our home it is one with a purpose.  We give gifts as a reminder of the greatest gift ever given to mankind.  I must admit that I love giving gifts to my children.  But toys and trinkets get broken, clothes get worn out and outgrown, electronics lose batteries and stop working, and the latest fad becomes next year’s obsolete.  So I ask myself what can I give my children that will last?  What type of gifts can I give that have true value?

In a world of busyness one of the most wonderful gifts we can give our children is TIME.  December is probably the busiest month of the year for us.  Between Thanksgiving and Christmas we go nonstop.  There are people to visit, parties and programs to attend, Christmas cantata’s to practice for, gifts to make, shopping to do, etc.   But life is short.  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (Jas 4:14)   This truth is especially evident when it comes to children.  They do not stay young forever.  They grow up fast.  As parents we only have a short time to invest in our children.  We need to slow down and give our children something that will matter – time.  Time with us, time to play games, time to talk, time to come apart from the world, time to meditate upon God, time to read together,  and time to be a family.  I have heard it said that the quantity of time does not matter as long as you give your children quality time.   This is not true!  Research has said that parents spend on average 3.5 minutes a day in meaningful conversation with their children.  How sad!  However, the average child watches 1,500 hours a year of TV.  I guess if you want Hollywood to raise your children then this statistic would not bother you.  But dear Christian parent is should bother you.  Turn off the TV and spend TIME with your children.  Read to them at night, pray with them, and sing songs.  When they grow up and look back at their life these are the things they will remember.

 Another gift we can give our children is a home filled with PEACE.  The world is hectic and noisy but our homes should be a gentle haven of rest for our children.  Our children should not have homes filled with screaming and shouting but with soft answers and love.  The fruits of the Spirit should be manifested in our homes – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.  A home filled with peace not only blesses our children but consider what a true witness it is to the world around us.  Voddie Bauchman in Family Driven Faith states, “Our homes must be rife with the aroma of love.  Those who visit us should notice immediately that they have left the world of self-serving egocentric narcissism and have entered a safe harbor where people value and esteem others above themselves.  Outsiders should enter our homes and never want to leave.  Our neighbors should find excuses to visit us just to get another whiff of the fragrant aroma of love.  The brokenhearted should long to be near us.  The down trodden and abused should seek us out.  Families on the brink of disaster should point to us and say, ‘Why can’t our home be like that?’”  This describes a home filled with PEACE.   What a superb gift to give our children.

 Another gift that is so overlooked in our modern culture is the gift of LOVING and RESPECTING the children’s father.  While loving your children is a given, a high value placed on loving their father is often ignored.  Notice the order of things that the older women are to be teaching the younger women mentioned in Titus 2:4-5, “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”   The focus of the family should be on the marriage.  Children are in the home for a short time and the relationship they have with their parents change but this is not so in the husband and wife relationship.  When parents are united the children are blessed.  When I demonstrate to my children proper LOVE and RESPECT for my husband God is glorified and the children’s faith is strengthened. 

 While giving gifts let’s not forget the gift of HARDWORK.  Society will tell a child that you should do as little as possible to get as much as possible.  It is this fallacy of thinking that has led to lazy people and an abuse of our welfare system.   But, give your children the gift of learning how to work hard and they will always be able to thrive.  In addition, it is pleasing to the Lord.  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (Col 3:23)       

One of the greatest gifts we can give is the gift of INNER BEAUTY, especially when it comes to our daughters.  Godly women are not born, but raised.  There are many mothers concerned over whether their daughters have fashionable clothes and the latest styles.  And many mothers would be alarmed if their daughters were wearing dirty clothes.  But how many mothers care if their daughter has a filthy heart?  To teach and train our daughters about inner beauty that is acceptable to God is a divine gift we can give.  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)

 There are many gifts we can give our children.  But one that is of utmost importance is to give your children BIBLICAL STANDARDS to live by.  As Christian parents we should not want for our children what every other parent wants.  We shouldn’t hold them to the world’s standards but to God’s standards.  Do you want your children to make the team?   What about them making it into the Lambs book of life?  Do you want them to get a good education?  What about them being educated in the Word of God?  Do you want them to be true and loyal to their friends?  What about your children being faithful to the Lord and His Church?  Do you want your children to be popular?  What about them being peculiar?  God’s ways are always higher.   “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed” (Rom 12:2a).  Christian parent, there are many worthwhile pursuits in this world but few rise to the level of training our children to follow the Lord, to love Him with all we are, to treasure His Word, and to keep His commandments.  When we do this we have given our children gifts that never tear up, get worn, or get taken away.

 So, this holiday season I’ll be looking for presents for my children and wrapping packages like many others.  But the most precious gifts I’ll strive to give them will not be the ones that come in a box.  Instead, the gifts I will strive to give will be of eternal value.

More School?

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bus

The Drudge Report (www.drudgereport.com)  has an article this morning (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090927/ap_on_re_us/us_more_school)  about the President wanting longer school days and a longer school year, curtailing summer vacation. “Challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom”, he said earlier this year. Obama says American kids spend too little time in school, putting them at a disadvantage with other students around the globe. Really? I will not argue that American children are behind in academics when compared to children around the world. But I draw the line there. The last thing children need today is more time away from their families. Already, many children are being trained and indoctrinated by the world system for 7-8 hours, 5 days a week. When they do get home they are overwhelmed with activities, sports and homework. Several years ago a friend called asking for suggestions with her boy. She was having trouble keeping him motivated in doing his homework. I asked her how much time he on average spent doing homework each evening. She said he gets home at 4 p.m. and does homework until dinner time and then sometimes 1 to 2 hours after dinner each night. The child at the time was in 3rd grade. My comment was simply, “If I had just spent 8 hours “learning” and then had to come home and do another 3 to 4 hours of homework, I probably wouldn’t be motivated either.”

I realize that it has become common practice to hand your child over to the government from an early age, but is this really what we need? Psalm One gives a beautiful comparison between the blessed man and the wicked man.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

Notice that the blessed man does not walk in the counsel of (take advise or learn from) the ungodly. Nor, standeth in the way of (abides with) the sinners. Nor, sitteth in the seat of (continually dwells with) the scornful (those who scoff at or mock). Dr. Voddie Baucham, in Family Driven Faith says, “Contrary to popular opinion, there is no such thing as amoral education. All education teaches and shapes morality. It is impossible to separate one’s view of God, man, truth, knowledge, and ethics from the educational process. Every day that our children sit behind a desk, they are either being taught to know, love, and obey God or they are being taught to love and obey someone or something that has usurped God’s proper role.” He goes on to say, “Let me be clear – I applaud men and women who God has called to teach in government schools. These people are front-line warriors, and they need to be right where they are. However, there is a big difference between sending fully trained disciples into enemy territory and sending recruits to our enemy’s training camp. If we do the latter, we shouldn’t be surprised when they come home wearing the enemy’s uniform and charging the hill of our home while waving an enemy flag.”

The Daughters of Sarah

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sadShe was a beautiful lady and well dressed but her eyes were so sad. “Can I ask you something?” she said. It was after I had finished speaking at an Apples of Gold ladies conference at our church that she approached me. “My husband portrays himself as a godly spiritual leader when we are at church but at home he is a different man. Am I still to submit to a hypocritical husband?” We talked for several minutes. I shared with her some Bible verses and ended saying, “Yes, we are to submit as unto the Lord. Scripture does not say we are only to submit to a perfect husband.” I explained to her that submission was easy when your husband was a godly man who strived to do with will of God and to love you as he should. But an ungodly man was no excuse for unsubmission. “Remember,” I said, “You will be accountable to the Lord for your obedience not your husbands.” After a few more minutes, she left with a glimmer of hope in those once sad eyes. I’ll probably never meet her again but have often wondered about this dear lady. Has she been obedient to the Scriptures in spite of her husband’s faults? Has God worked on her husband’s heart?

As heartbreaking as it is it happens often. You will have a wife who greatly desires to follow the Lord in submission to her husband. But he is either unsaved or simply does not obey the Word. Listen to what 1 Peter 3:1-6 says about this very thing, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 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. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.”

Do you remember the story of Sarah and Abraham? Two times her husband put her in a dangerous situation by asking her to lie about their relationship. Once in Genesis 12 and then in Genesis 20 Abraham, because of fear, told his wife to say that she was Abraham’s sister causing her to be taken from him. “Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.” If you will read the story you will learn that God protected Sarah in her obedience. And, God dealt with Abraham in his foolishness. Ladies, as hard as it is we must never forget that our submission is “unto the Lord.” Biblical submission is such a beautiful thing. Without submitting myself to Christ I could never be saved. Without submitting myself to my husband I could never be in the will of God. My husband and I have grown a lot in this area. He has not always loved me as he should and I have not always submitted as I should but can I tell you that the more we have grown in obedience to Scriptures that the easier it becomes. When I submit to my husband it is a lot easier for him to love me as Christ loves the Church. And when he loves me this way it is a lot easier to submit.

One of the best sermons on submission that I have ever heard is by S.M. Davis called “The 7-fold Power of a Wife’s Submission.” It will bless your heart. Go to http://www.biblepreaching.com to hear it.

There is a love that God hates!

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broken heart

Yesterday in the news I read a story about an eleven year old girl who was abducted on her way home from school and kept hidden in her abductors backyard for nearly two decades.   She was raped and gave birth to two children by this evil man.  While thinking about the story my heart broke.  I have a little girl who is nearly 11 years old.  Just the thought brings horror.  And people wonder why I do not let my children out of my sight.  We live in an evil world.  There are many people who are evil and they love evil works of darkness.   “Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.”  Psalm 52:1-5         

Too many times I have heard sayings like this…  “A loving God would never send anyone to hell.”  Or “God is love, He cannot hate.”  Can I tell you that because God is love He must hate!  I love the Word of God therefore I hate false teaching.  I love freedom therefore I hate slavery.  I love the God ordained institution of marriage therefore I hate divorce, adultery, and homosexuality.  I love children therefore I hate abortion.  I love the truth therefore I hate lying.  I love everything that is good and holy therefore I hate everything that is evil.  “I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.” Psalm 26:5  “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil:” Psalm 97:10a                

There is a love that God hates.  Ask yourself, does God hate it when we have love for the things of this world?  “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”  1John 2:15-16   “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”  James 4:4

 So I must ask, “Are there things in my life that I love and yet God absolutely hates?”   “Do I love the world?”  “Do I love the things of this world?”  “Do I watch things on TV that grieves the Lord?  Do I listen to or read things that God hates?”   “Do I think and mediate upon things that God hates?”  “Is my affection set on things of the earth or on things above?”  May I never love the things that God hates.

The Antithesis of Home Schooling

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As the summer flew by we knew that our journey in knowledge would continue as we picked the books back up.  We often remind our children that one should never stop learning, however during the summer months our family takes a more informal approach to academics.  But this week began our official “school time”.  With great expectations I woke Monday but by the end of the day all I could do was shake my head.  The day did not go as planned.  There was fussing, disobeying and yes, even screaming.  And the children didn’t do so well either.  As I pondered the first day back at school and searched my heart for the answer to why the day did not go well, the Lord spoke to my conscience.  I already knew the answer for conscience means with (con) knowledge (science), making my conclusions all the more painful.  It was as if the Lord asked, “By what standards are you setting up for your children?  Are your goals based on the world or do you have a Biblical standard for these children I have given you?  Are you concerned with only the outcome or is it the process of learning that you care about?  Are you teaching your children so that they will get the best education or is there a higher calling of teaching your children – for My Glory?”    In truth there is such a contrast in each approach. Therefore it is important to reevaluate our reasoning for home education each year.  While my husband is constant in his goals for this family I must admit that I am prone to wander off the path at times.  I believe that is why God in all His wisdom allows me a day like Monday.  He allows me to slip off the path of excellence, fall down on the rocky road of this world, and then come running back to His marvelous plan for my life.  So, as I nursed my bruises from the day before I took on a whole new approach to learning and teaching on Tuesday.   Whether we were reading the Word of God as a family, practicing cursive handwriting, or studying the 2nd law of Thermodynamics our focus was upon doing all things for the Glory of God.  Would you believe that the contrast was as stark as night and day?   

The Slave

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chains

The story of Onesimus speaks to my heart

From Philemon his owner, this man did part

And ran away and joined another

Paul – apostle, prisoner, and brother.

The Word was taught for man to do right

It’s wrong for a slave to run and take flight.

Go back, serve your master it would be better

But take comfort my friend, I’ll send a letter.

On your behalf any debt I will repay;

I’ll take it upon myself, it’s the only way.

With Paul as his intercessor, willing to repent,

Back to Philemon he was sent.

Not only a slave but now a brother

For Onesimus gladly serves another.

Another story of a slave let me tell,

This one was bound and headed for hell.

My master was Satan and I served only sin

I would serve him today had grace not been.

The wages due was nothing but death

No hope within, there was nothing left.

Until the day a new Master sought me

Breaking chains of bondage setting me free.

The debt I owed – my Lord paid it all,

He lifted me up out of the fall.

Now no longer just a poor slave

From my Master new life He gave.

As joint-heirs He is also my brother

For now I gladly serve another.

Rejoice

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book cover

With my proof copy in hand, I thank the Lord that I can say my Bible Study through Philippians is available. If you know of any ladies bible study groups that would be interested please refer them to this link. https://www.createspace.com/3391206  The book will also be available on amazon.com in a few weeks. Thank you all for your encouragement and prayers. Below is an excerpt from the introduction.

“Happiness is overrated,” was the response my good friend gave one day when talking about her life’s circumstances. What? Isn’t being happy what life is all about? If we will look around we will see that all the self-help books and motivational speakers seem to be telling us just this. Look up the word “happiness” in any dictionary and you will discover that it means the state of being happy or having joy, pleasure, delight, etc. Happiness results from the attainment of what one considers good. In other words, the world’s view of happiness is based on current circumstances. Are you happy when your husband brings home flowers for no apparent reason? What about when your children go an entire day without tears, fighting, and/or blood? We are happy when our finances are secure, the doctor visit goes well, our church has no problems, the in-laws went home a day early, and the bathroom scales are being generous. But what happens when it has been years since you have seen flowers from your husband? What happens when all of a sudden your children have become enemies and you work all day on getting a peace treaty signed? What happens when your clothes are fitting tight and to make matters worse your scale has been lying to you? What happens when your church family is having troubles or your in-laws announce a two week visit? What happens when the doctor brings bad news? What happens when your finances are a wreck? What happens to your happiness then? If we will be honest we will say it leaves. As a child of God, is this world’s happiness what we should really seek? Is our happiness what God is concerned with? Is being happy the same thing as having the joy that the Bible speaks of? Just what is the difference between “happiness” and Biblical joy? Here it is – happiness can come and go. But, biblical joy is rock solid. It comes from deep within your soul and cannot be moved. Glory Hallelujah, it is here to stay. The joy that comes from the Lord is not based on our circumstances but on Christ alone. I am going to say that one more time for emphasis. The joy that comes from the Lord is not based on our circumstances but on Christ alone! It has nothing to do with us, it is all about Him. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. (Psalm 32:11) When the storms in life come, my joy is in the fact that God is my refuge. When I am weak, my joy is in the fact that God is my strength. When others oppose me, my joy is in the fact that God is my defender. When I am afraid and do not know what tomorrow holds, my joy is in the fact that God is all knowing. When the fiery darts from Satan are thrown, my joy is in the fact that God is my shield. My joy comes from the fact that God IS.

What’s in a Name?

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baby

My sister just found out that she is expecting a baby!  The whole family shares the excitement that she and her husband have.   Having children is such a blessing.  Scripture says that children are a direct blessing from the Lord.  (Psalm 127)  Therefore, the more children you have, the more blessed are you. 

My three children are looking forward to having a new cousin.  They have taken it upon themselves to pick out names for this child.  I remember the dilemma we had when trying to decide what names we would choose for our children.  After all, our children would have to live with our choice for their entire life.  So we choose with care:

Aaron (Anointed One)

Abigail (Father’s Joy)

Andrew (Strong and Courageous)

As I think about names and what they mean I cannot help but think of the name above all names – Jesus.  One of the most moving songs about the name of Jesus was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither.  While performing their song, “There’s Just Something About That Name” Gloria has spoken these following words between the verses:

 “Jesus, the mere mention of His name can calm the storm, heal the broken, raise the dead. At the name of Jesus, I’ve seen sin-hardened men melted, derelicts transformed, the lights of hope put back into the eyes of a hopeless child…   At the name of Jesus, hatred and bitterness turned to love and forgiveness, arguments cease.   I’ve heard a mother softly breathe His name at the bedside of a child delirious with fever, and I’ve watched that little body grow quiet and the fevered brow cool.  I’ve stayed beside a dying saint, her body racked with pain, who in those final fleeting seconds summoned her last ounce of ebbing strength to whisper earth’s sweetest name–Jesus, Jesus…   Emperors have tried to destroy it; philosophies have tried to stamp it out. Tyrants have tried to wash it from the face of the earth with the very blood of those who claimed it. Yet still it stands.   And there shall be that final day when every voice that has ever uttered a sound–every voice of Adam’s race shall raise in one great mighty chorus to proclaim the name of Jesus–for in that day “every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!!!”   Ah–so you see–it was not mere chance that caused the angel one night long ago to say to a virgin maiden, “His name shall be called Jesus.” Jesus–Jesus–Jesus. You know, there is something about that name…”[i]

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Php 2:9-11)

 

[i] It’s more than Music, Bill & Gloria Gaither, The Gaither Charitable Foundation, 2003

From the Mouth of Babes!

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Over the weekend our family drove down to the coast. My oldest son had a couple of friends with him. On the way one of the boys commented that he made a bet with his sister that he would never get married.

My reply was, “Of course you will.”

This young man said, “I just want to be single.”

At this point in the conversation Andrew, my six year old piped in saying, “You are single when you get married.”

To which I said, “No you’re not.”

“Yes, you are.” Andrew insisted, “The two shall become one flesh.”

Even now as I sit here pondering the significance of what this child said I wonder just how many adults grasp this concept.

“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.” (Matthew 19:4-8)

I know divorce is a very real problem with mankind. It always has been. But as believers we must be diligent in the Biblical teaching of marriage. For those who are married they must take heed lest they fall (I Cor. 10:12). For those who have been divorced how much more should they teach and train their children the consequences of divorce and the standards of God. As parents our goal is to show our children what a healthy marriage looks like. My husband strives to be a strong leader and a godly husband and father. I strive to be a submissive wife and a loving mother. While we both fail at times our desire is to endeavor towards the high calling in which we are called. In that my children will have an example in which to look. I pray that my son (as well as all my children) will continue to hold fast to the truths in God’s Word. I pray that he will want to be a husband and father someday. And that he will long for the day in which God gives him a wife.

“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD”. (Proverbs 18:22)