Just a Reminder for all the Mothers

According to Titus 2:5 it is important that a young woman keep her home. She is “to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to [her] husband, so that no one will malign the Word of God.”  Unfortunately, our society has taken this out of context and we have placed more importance on keeping up appearances than anything else.  I ran across this great poem today that was a refreshing reminder of what my most important role in my home is…raising my children. Too many days are spent focusing on the aesthetics and not on the tasks that have true value, real merit and will place an indelible mark on the future.

I Took His Hand and Followed
Mrs. Roy L. Peifer

My dishes went unwashed today,I didn’t make the bed,

I took his hand and followed Where his eager footsteps led.

Oh yes, we went adventuring, My little son and I…

Exploring all the great outdoors Beneath the summer sky

We waded in a crystal stream,We wandered through a wood…

My kitchen wasn’t swept today, But life was gay and good.

We found a cool, sun-dappled glade, And now my small son knows

How Mother Bunny hides her nest, Where jack-in-the-pulpit grows.

We watched a robin feed her young, We climbed a sunlit hill…

Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky, We plucked a daffodil.

That my house was neglected, That I didn’t brush the stairs,

In twenty years, no one on earth, Will know, or even care.

But that I’ve helped my little boy, To noble manhood grow,

In twenty years, the whole wide world, May look and see and know.

Although it appears that the author of the poem was referring to educating her son in general, Christian mothers (which should really be all mothers) have the added responsibility of raising our children in God-centered homes.  A mother’s faithful instruction multiplies to bless others as her children grow into mature servants of God. 2 Tim. 1:5

2 Timothy 1:5 (ASV)
⁵ having been reminded of the unfeigned faith that is in thee; which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and, I am persuaded, in thee also.

Be blessed…

Godly Girls Invest in a Good Girdle

Godly Girls Invest in a Good Girdle
By Valerie Ralston

How many times have you read Proverbs 31 and wondered, “How can I possibly be this woman?” Well I have good news for you! The Bible is like a mirror, as you look into it, and start appropriating what it is reflecting back to you, you begin to resemble more and more what the Word says you are! In light of this, I want to share with you one of the “reflections” God has shown me.

Proverbs 31:17 (Amplified Bible) says, “She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.”

While reading Proverbs 31 countless times, I continually found myself feeling like this verse was a speed-bump. I would be reading along, but would come to verse 17 and feel like God was trying to get me to slow down and hang out on this verse for a while. The word “girds” captivated me and I knew the Holy Spirit wanted to reveal something to me. The word gird means: to enclose, to surround, to equip, to clothe. It’s where we get the word girdle. It means to invest, which is to furnish w/power, privilege & authority! Honey, when you get your girdle on, you are furnishing or clothing yourself with God’s power, privilege and authority!!!

As I read this verse, God directed me to something I had not paid much attention to before. It says, “She girds herself.” So who does the girding? The godly woman that is being described. You see, it’s my job to gird myself! It’s not someone else’s job to gird me! It’s not my pastor’s job to gird me! And guess what?! It’s not even God’s job to gird me! It’s my job! Have you ever tried to put on a girdle? Let me tell you it takes some effort! Now imagine trying to put it on one of your sisters! I don’t think so! You know, there are just some things you have to do for yourself! I love that God did not make us robots, obeying pre-programmed commands, but instead, as a loving Father calls us to a loving relationship based on us choosing Him.

In the Amplified Bible, the strength she girds herself with is described as 3-fold, it says “spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task”. She doesn’t neglect any of these areas because she understands that all 3 have a part in her fulfilling everything that God has for her.

Listen to this definition of gird: to prepare oneself for action. She prepares herself for action so she will be ready for God’s use!

She prepares physically she strengthens her body why? Well it’s not only so she can be looking and feeling good, although that is a benefit of physical fitness. No, her 1st reason for physical fitness is to be strong for her God-given task. You know it’s going to take some physical strength and stamina to fulfill God’s assignment for you.

She prepares mentally strengthening her mind. She understands learning doesn’t end with graduation! We should constantly be growing & learning as long as we have breath.

She prepares spiritually how? Here are 2 ways: first, getting God’s Word in you, and speaking that Word out; and second, developing a daily prayer time, praying in the spirit and in your understanding.

Girls, one of the best investments we will ever make is in a good girdle! Only you can make that investment, nobody else can do that for you. Let me encourage you that whatever the cost of investment of your time, your talent, your heart to your Creator will have eternal benefits for both you, and everyone God wants your life to touch. So come on girlfriend! Get your girdle on!

Valerie Ralston’s more than 16 years of ministry, teaching, & living out the principles established in God’s Word enable her to teach with passion, humor & conviction. Her message is straightforward, extremely real, & will inspire you to be the one of a kind original God intends for you to be.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

Raising them Right…

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  Ephesians 6:4

As believers our first ministry is to our family.  We are to consistently live and teach the gospel to our children.  These gifts are our responsibility and none of us should want to get caught with our work undone.   I was so very moved when I watched the video below.  It shares the testimony of a young man, named Brady, that came to Christ during a bout with brain cancer and how it built his faith as well as his parents’.

Keeping Up Appearances

The doorbell rings and your heart flutters.  “I’m not expecting any company today,” you think to yourself.  You look around at the toys on the floor, the laundry basket in the corner and other miscellaneous items scattered around the room in frustration.  As you approach the door you attempt to gather yourself and put on your best face.  “Oh, good afternoon sister.  What a pleasant surprise.  Come on in.” you say as gleefully as possible.  Then, it happens–the apologies and excuses begin.  Please excuse our untidiness today,we got a late start; these kids never pick up after themselves; it’s laundry day, just to name a few.

It’s no different when you get a call and someone requests to stop by, the anxiety still exists.  But why?  What has given us the notion that we all have to be Martha Stewart or B. Smith with Style?  What has given us the notion that we should appear to be prepared to entertain like Martha or B. Smith at a moments notice?  I like things to be aesthetically pleasing so, I recently wrestled in this area and became extremely frustrated.

We struggle in the area of hospitality.   After a few conversations lately, I realize that I’m not the only one. My house is lived in.   I have two young daughters, that love to play,  Although we have systems set into place, sometimes something just doesn’t get put away and I have to learn to be okay with that. Why should I feel rushed to make someone think that our family doesn’t live in our home? Should I wait until I’m ready to be featured in Better Homes and Gardens or In Style Homes to open our home to company?  That can’t be true.

Remember, if you will,  the commercial when the woman convinces her family that their dessert “takes time” as she relaxes while reading a novel.  She then, hurriedly splatters her face and clothes with flour and bursts from the kitchen with the Rice Krispy Treats as if she slaved over them.  It is easy to want everyone to remember all the work we put into our centerpieces and how we slaved over a meal. That’s our flesh just doing what it does.  It should be more important to us that our guest are comfortable than how impressed they are with us.  Hospitality begins in our hearts.  We can forgo fancy feasts and lavish decorations and open our hearts when we open our homes.

Our culture has caused us to be consumed with keeping up appearances.  We have confused the true meaning of Biblical hospitality.  It is not about living in the right neighborhood or having the “right house”.  It’s about serving others and not about others praising us for doing so.  Jesus often crossed economic, cultural and social divides in order to be hospitable to others, even though he wasn’t in his own home.

Being hospitable may not always be convenient or comfortable.  As a child, my parents opened up our three bedroom home all the time.  Often, to people that they had just met. My mom and her sisters would get together and prepare meals and there would always be more than enough. My parents would lend their vehicles to people while other saints questioned their actions.   I did not understand why I had to crash on the couch or why we were down to one vehicle then but, now I understand what they felt compelled to do.  They had to show the love of Christ.  The following scriptures highlight the importance of the hospitality of believers:

When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.  Romans 12:13 (NLT)

Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!  Hebrews 13:2 (NLT)

Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ's body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing Him). 1 Peter 4:9 (Amplified)

After meditating on these scriptures I feel at peace with our lived in abode.  I thank God that we always have a place for someone to rest their head, something to satisfy their hunger and word of prayer. I thank God that those unexpected visits might have been preordained.  No more concern with keeping up appearances.

On every level of life from housework to the heights of prayer, in all judgement and all efforts to get things done, hurry and impatience are the sure marks of an amateur.   Evelyn Underhill

Princess and the Frog

Finally, we have the full trailer for Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, which features their first African-American princess!  Sure, they gave us the Shana and Thes Proud Family with Penny Proud to pacify us but, she was not a princess.  So, I’m sure many of you share the same sentiments that I did when I initially began to hear rumors that they were finally going to have a princess my daughters could relate to.  I pondered the many storylines the rumors reported.  Some of them made me angry and other made me laugh at how trivial many people believe African-American culture is.  Nevertheless, right now I plan to support this film because I would like to see more like it.

Disney estimates they will make a ton of revenue from the Tiana dolls, manufactured by Mattel.  They are hoping she will help carry them through tough times.  In addition, Mattel has plans to launch their first complete line of African-American dolls.  The So in Style Dolls will launch in the fall, just in time for the holiday shopping season.  Reportedly, the line differs from its previous releases of African-American toys.  The new line is set to have more realistic features like fuller lips, different noses, and complexions, etc.

11-Year-Old Hangs Himself

It is normal for us to feel that no child should ever proceed their parent in death.  Whether the cause is illness or senseless violence the pain is still severe.  It was heart-wrenching when I heard Sirdeaner Walker describe finding her 11-year-old son, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, hanging from an extension cord in his bedroom last Monday night after he had endured another day of taunting at New Leadership Charter School, where he was a sixth-grader, she said.

I don’t even think I knew what suicide was at 11-years old.  He would have turned 12 on the 17th.  She described her son as a happy child who had recently come under a great deal of stress due to enduring bullying at school, including daily taunts of being gay, despite his mother’s weekly pleas to the school to address the problem. This is at least the fourth suicide of a middle-school aged child linked to bullying this year.

In an unrelated incident another 11-year-old boy, Jaheem Herrera, in Atlanta suffered similar abuse.  His younger sister found him hanging in his bedroom last Thursday.  Norman Keene, the fifth-grader’s stepfather, said the family knew the boy was a target, but until his death, they didn’t understand the extent of his suffering.  “They called him gay and a snitch,” he stated.

Victims of bullies become anxious, insecure and cautious, suffer low self-esteem and rarely defend themselves or retaliate. Often they feel isolated and withdrawn. The most common reason cited by youth for why someone is targeted for bullying is because the person does not fit in.

Even if your child isn’t a victim, it can be beneficial to have a discussion about this topic. Who knows? Your child might become a protector of someone being bullied, or he may even decide to show compassion to a bully who feels guilty about how he’s treating others.

Most importantly, we should start at home by modeling Christlike attributes and behaviors before them.  This foundation will establish both accountability and respect for others.

Educators’ advice to parents on how to combat bullying:

> Talk with and listen to your kids —- every day. Engage in frequent conversations about their social lives.

> Spend time at school and recess. Research shows that 67 percent of bullying happens when adults are not present.

> Be a good example of kindness and leadership. Your kids learn a lot about power relationships from watching you.

> Learn the signs. Most children don’t tell anyone (especially adults) that they’ve been bullied. Learn to recognize warning signs such as complaints of headaches or stomachaches, or avoiding recess or school activities.

> Create healthy anti-bullying habits early. Coach your children what not to do —- hitting, pushing, teasing.

> Help your child’s school deal with bullying effectively. Zero-tolerance policies don’t work. Ongoing educational programs that help create a healthy social climate do.

Source: Education.com

More Recommended Resources:

State Laws on Bullying

Cyberbullying

No More Bullies: For Those Who Wound and Are Wounded By Frank Peretti

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National Autism Awareness Month 2009

April is National Autism Awareness Month.  Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S., affecting 1 in 150 children. Every 20 minutes, a child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Autism is more common than juvenile diabetes, childhood cancer, Down’s Syndrome and AIDS combined. It is one of our community’s most urgent needs.

According to the Autism Society of America, Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum disorder” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function.   Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism versus neuro-typical children.  Common knowledge says that parents whose child has been diagnosed with autism should run — not walk — to the nearest therapist. Early intensive intervention, it is said, is the key to “optimal outcomes” for autistic children.

There’s no doubt that autistic children who undergo intensive intervention, be it behavioral or developmental, do better than children who don’t. And there’s certainly no good reason to wait to provide such therapy. The following video from the Center for Disease Control helps provide information on recoginizing the signs of developmental delays.

The contents of SistersoftheFaith.com, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on SistersoftheFaith.com (”Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on SistersoftheFaith.com

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The Master Decorator

The Master Decorator
By Patty Wysong

How is it that some people can take a room, fill it with spare parts, old parts, new parts, odd parts, and all kinds of other things and make it beautiful? I have never been able to understand it. I could take the same parts and pieces, arrange them, and have a…garage sale. It just doesn’t work for me.

I’ve studied Better Homes & Gardens for years, dreamed, schemed, plotted and planned, and my house still looks like a collection of yard sale and auction finds, which it is. What’s the missing link? If I hang a curtain like the masters do in BH&G, it’d look like a sheet hung with strips of rags instead of the cool curtains they end up with. What am I doing wrong?

I just don’t have that magical touch of a decorating master’s hand. Some hands create beauty out of chaos, mine create more chaos out of chaos. How I wish I could create an environment that invited people to enter, relax, visit and unwind, but I struggle with keeping the living room presentable enough so my husband doesn’t groan when he walks in the door at night!

But just because I don’t have a decorator’s touch in my home doesn’t mean I’m not touched by the Master Decorator. He’s willing to decorate my soul if I just give Him access to it. Am I willing for Him to dig through the attic of my life, looking for antique treasures I had tucked away and buried? What about those basement corners in my life? Just because I think something is junk and have it hidden in my basement, doesn’t mean He doesn’t want to pull it out, touch it up, and add it to my living room, that ‘public’ part of my life.

God, the Master Decorator, is able to pull all the parts and pieces of my life together, even the seemingly ugly parts, and create a place of comfort, a haven from life’s storms. But I need to give Him access to my hiding places. Am I willing to have Him pull out the ‘uglies’ hidden in my life and create beauty from those? Am I willing to invite people in to see how He has decorated my soul? It means exposure. It means allowing them to see the uglies. But those uglies, once touched by the Master’s hand, are not ugly any more, they’re worked into the whole and they create a picture and a place of His beauty. If I allow Him access and invite Him to decorate my soul.

Please, Lord, be the Master Decorator in my life and soul. I give You the keys to my attic, basement, closets, shed, and garage–every hiding place in my life. Take these parts, even the ugly ones, and touch them and arrange them to create a place of beauty in me–a place of refreshment and peace. Be the Master Decorator in me.

Patty Wysong is a Christian wife and homeschool mom of 5 who is passionate about wrapping lessons in pretty packages that will point others to God.

Blog: http://pattywysong.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

Rediscovering the Proverb 31 Woman

Rediscovering the Proverbs 31 Woman – Clothed in Strength and Dignity
By Ameerah Lewis

I can still remember the moment when I came face-to-face with a real Proverb 31 woman for the first time.

I was a struggling baby Christian, trying to figure out how I, a recovering daughter of the women’s movement, was ever going to learn to be quiet and subservient.

After all, that is what a Christian woman is – Right?

But, then I met her.

Sure, I had met other Christian women in church. But, there was something different about her.

She wasn’t a church mouse. But, she wasn’t bossy either.

God had clothed her in something I had never seen before a Gentle strength.

She wore it well. And I wanted some of my own!

In today’s society, the true meaning of feminine strength has gotten skewed. But God does not want you to feel confused. That is why He explains His vision of a strong woman in the powerful passage, Proverb 31.

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10).

Did you know that the word often translated as virtuous here actually means a lot more? The Hebrew word that God uses to set a standard for Christian women that still holds till this day is “chayil.”

During this time in history, “chayil” would have been used to describe great armies and warriors! It is an adjective that means strong, mighty, and powerful!

Shocked? I definitely was!

As the Bible continues to describe God’s ideal woman, it reiterates that “Strength and dignity are her clothing” (Proverb 31:25 AMP).

As a woman, God had given you a strength all your own But what kind of strength is it?

Does the fact that you can make dinner, answer the phone, and change a dirty diaper all at the same time make you “chayil”? Is that the only strength and value that God puts in women?

Of course not!

Your strength and power does not come from how much you can accomplish in one day. It flows out of your relationship with your Heavenly Father.

Jesus taught this same truth to a woman named Martha over two thousand years ago. But it is just as true today.

Martha had a huge dinner that she was trying to prepare for the Lord. As she worked diligently, trying to make it as nice as possible, she became frustrated that her sister Mary was not helping her. Mary had decided to just sit down and enjoy the conversation!

But, when Martha questioned Jesus about it, she did not get the response she anticipated. He told her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it.” (Luke 10:41,42 NLT)

Do you ever get so busy running around doing things for God, that you forget to spend time with God?

That time alone with God is indeed the very source of the Proverb 31 woman’s strength. . “She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task]” ( Proverb 31:17 AMP)

We could all spend more time girding ourselves up spiritually for the daily tasks that God has for us. More time sitting at His feet like Mary. Maybe time meditating in God’s Word, or enrolled in a women’s Bible study group.

As you make the time to sit at the feet of your Heavenly Father, He will clothe you in a strength and dignity all your own.

Ameerah Lewis helps Christians draw closer to their Heavenly Father through free Bible study online courses at http://www.hem-of-his-garment-bible-study.org . Her e-courses and monthly e-devotional are perfect for the busy Christian.

This article may be only reprinted in it’s entirety-link included.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

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Christian Sex-Ed

Let me first start by saying that I have desperately been avoiding this issue.  However, it seems to keep popping up everywhere, including my own home.  My six year old wants to know where babies come from and how any human being could have eight!  I thought I had taken care of this conversation for at least another couple of years, but with OctoMom being covered on every news outlet there is no escape.  So, begins my journey.  How do I teach with all clarity and accuracy about sex?  What is age appropriate?  How much is too much?  Should boys and girls be handled differently?

Sometimes as parents we make the mistake of putting off questions. When we do we might think that we’ve “successfully avoided” the issue. Instead, we are teaching our children that you are not a good sources of information. They will go elsewhere.   Instead, we should “take advantage of the opportunities our children give us to provide correct answers.”

Our goals as Christian parents should be, first, to model healthy, biblical sexuality (in our actions and attitudes), second, to educate about healthy, biblical sexuality (the physical, spiritual, and emotional dimensions), and finally, to help our children to internalize healthy and biblical attitudes and boundaries with their own sexuality.

I plan to read the following  selections and share the information and insight with you.   Please share any experiences that you have had in this area.

God’s Design for Sex Series, Book 1: The Story of Me, Revised By Stan Jones & Brenna Jones / NAV Press

Questions Kids Ask about Sex: Honest Answers for Every Age By J. Thomas Fitch, M.D., with Melissa R. Cox / Revell

Teaching Your Children Healthy Sexuality–Parent/Child Kit By Jim Burns / Bethany House

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