IS GOD ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR ANOTHER BABY?

Recently I read some comments from mothers which grieved my heart. One mother said she would love to have more children but couldn't afford to build more rooms to their home to accommodate them. Another said she would like more but believed that God does not guarantee to provide all our needs. It is true that if we looked at our financial circumstances most of us would never have children. But God doesn't provide for children before they come to us, but when they arrive.
The Scriptures are very clear that God will provide food and clothing for His people who walk in His ways and who trust Him. As believers, we do not live by what we see, but by faith in God's living Word which cannot lie. It is an indictment to the church of God today that most "believers" do not believe. We have the same attitudes as the people who do not know God. Surely, we are a different people. We are a people who are saved by faith and now live by faith in His promises.
Can I encourage you to read the following promises of provision? Let God strengthen your heart. Let Him fill you with faith as you read His Word because "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God". Romans 10:17.

Jehovah Jireh

Genesis 22:14, "And Abraham called the name of the place, The Lord Will Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided."
The Hebrew for "The Lord Will Provide" is Jehovah Jireh which is one of the names of God. God cannot go against His name, for that is who He is. Because He is Jehovah Jireh, we can trust in Him that He will provide.

The First Blessing

In Deuteronomy 7:12-13 God promises that if we hearken to His Word and obey it, that "He will love you and bless you and multiply you; he will also bless the fruit of your womb."
The fruit of the womb is the first blessing that God gives. After the blessing of the fruit of the womb, God lists further blesses that He will bestow on those who keep His commandments, "And the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock."
The blessings of the harvest of the land and the increase of flocks for food and clothing come after the blessing of the womb. The purpose of these blessings is to provide for the first blessing, the blessing of children. There would be no need for all these other blessings if we did not have the first blessing of children. What's the use of bountiful crops if there is no one to eat them? God always puts things in order of importance.
This theme is repeated again in Deuteronomy 28:1-8. Once again He reminds us, "If you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all his commandments... Blessed shall be the fruit of your body." Again it is mentioned first, and then the added blessings are mentioned. We are promised that after the blessing of children we will receive "the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out."
Moses has just finished giving the children of Israel these promises from the Lord when he repeats them again. Obviously God thought they may not believe Him the first time, so He immediately repeats the promises again in Deuteronomy 28: 11-13, "And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, (and now the provision promises follow) in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground... The Lord will open to you his good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand"
And if this wasn't enough, God gives this same promise again for the fourth time to make sure they get the message. Deuteronomy 30:9 says, "The Lord will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, (the blessing of the womb is mentioned first again, and then follows the provision for the fruit of the womb) in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good."
The Lord repeated this truth four times when speaking through Moses to His people to make sure they got the message. Have you got the message too?

City or Country

Deuteronomy 28:3-4 says, "Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body." Before God mentions the blessings of the womb and all the provision for the children He gives, He reminds them that they will be blessed in the city and in the country. It doesn't matter whether you have your children in the city, or in the country, God has promised to bless you wherever you live.
Some mothers think they could maybe have more children if they lived in the country, but God's blessings are for the country and the city. It doesn't matter where you live, God will provide for the children that He gives to you. We now live in the country, but we raised our children in the city!

God's Faithfulness to Israel - They Lacked Nothing

Deuteronomy 2:7, "For the Lord thy God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing."
Nehemiah 9:20-21 says, "You also gave your good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell." Read also Exodus 16:14-36; 17:1-7;  Deuteronomy 8:3-4 and 29:5.
How did the Israelites live in the wilderness? They didn't live in lovely homes like we do today. They lived in temporary tents made of goats' hair! They didn't have all the mod-cons that we have today. Although they lived in the heat of the desert they didn't have refrigerators and freezers. They didn't have washing machines, dishwashers or vacuum cleaners. They had no shops to run to when they ran out of milk or bread. They had to trust in God's faithfulness to provide manna each day! And it was the same diet for forty years! But God said that they "lacked nothing!" God provided their daily food and water and protected their clothing. They had all they needed.
By the way, they didn't have extra bedrooms for each child either. The children would have all slept together in their tent. And what did God say? "They lacked nothing!" Children love sleeping in the same room. It is only parents who want separate rooms for their children; children would rather be together. And they don't even have to have beds if you don't have room for them; they can sleep on mattresses on the floor. One of my daughters has ten children and they have never slept in beds. They are not deprived. They are the happiest and most well-adjusted children you could find on the planet!
I remember when our children were growing. I would go into their bedrooms to say goodnight and make sure they were all settled in their beds. Later, when my husband and I would check them again before we went to bed, we would find empty beds! They were out of their beds and sleeping with one another or having fun sleeping in a cupboard! Many times the boys would rather sleep outside in a hut they had made during the day!
We think we need so much and yet it is amazing what little we can live on when we have to! We may not always have everything we covet, but God has promised to provide our sustenance. You can trust Him.

No Want

Psalm 34: 8-10, "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints! There is no want to those who fear him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing."

No Begging

David says in Psalm 37:25-26, "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed." God has promised to provide for the children of those who are righteous and generous.

God Delights to give us Food

The following Scriptures show God's heart to us about providing us with food and clothing. It is His delight to give us food.
Deuteronomy 10:18, "He loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing."
Deuteronomy 11:14-15, "I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled."
Job 36:26, 31, "Behold, God is great... He gives food in abundance."
Psalm 23:1-2, 5, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters... You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."
Psalm 36:7-8 TLB, "You feed them with blessings from your own table and let them drink from your rivers of delight."
Psalm 103:1, 5, "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name! ... Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
Psalm 104:14-15, "He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man's heart."
Psalm 111:4-5 says, "The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. He has given food to those who fear him; he will ever be mindful of his covenant." The RSV translation says, "He provides food for those who fear him."
Psalm 136:1, 25, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! ... Who gives food to all flesh."
Psalm 145:14-16, "The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up al those who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing."
Psalm 145:5, 7, "Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God... who gives food to the hungry."
Isaiah 25:6, "And in this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all people a fest of choice pieces, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of well-refined wines on the lees."
Isaiah 40:11, "He will feed his flock like a shepherd."
Ezekiel 34:13-15, "I will feed them in good pasture... There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will make them lie down,' says the Lord God."
Acts 14:17, "He gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."
We are also reminded of how Jesus provided for the 5,000 on one occasion and 4,000 on another occasion from a little bread and a few fishes. Nothing is impossible to God. Read Matthew 14:13-21 and 15:32-39.

God Provides for Hard-Working Husbands with Families

Psalm 128 is one of the special family psalms in which God portrays a picture of the family that is blessed of the Lord. He states here that, "Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways. When you eat the labour of your hands, you shall be happy and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord."
You will notice that this is a family that fears the Lord and the husband is a hard worker. Often husbands can lose a job and be out of work. However, a man who continues working full time from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm each day looking for a job, will soon have another job. Many wait for the job to turn up, but a man who works full time looking for one will soon have one!
We notice four things about this family who fears the Lord and walks in His ways:

1.  The family is happy and blessed. The NLT says, "You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How happy you will be! How rich your life!"

2.  The mother is not out doing the husband's job of providing for the family. She is fulfilling the mandate that God has given her to mother and nurture her children in the home.

3. The wife is flourishing in her home. The NLT says, "Your wife will be like a fruitful vine, flourishing within your home."

4.  The children are also flourishing. The family is not fragmented with the children going here, there and everywhere. They are a cohesive unit. They eat their meals together and all sit around the table together.

5.  They are committed to their marriage and will one day enjoy their grandchildren together.

Enough Food for your Household

Proverbs 27:25-27 says, "When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field; you shall have enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household, and the nourishment of your maidservants."

Stop Worrying!

Our Father in heaven has promised to watch over us and give us food and clothing.  Matthew 6:25-33 says,
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap not gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: their neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?' or ‘What shall we drink?' or ‘What shall we wear?'
For after these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added t you.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Do you notice how many times Jesus reminds us not to worry?
Many parents decide not to have any more children because they think they will not be able to provide for them. They not only think of providing for their food and clothing but for their future. Jesus commands us not to worry about these things for He has promised to provide them for us. To be concerned and worry about it is in direct disobedience to the words of Jesus. We are either walking in obedience to His words or in disobedience. It is amazing that most of the church walks in disobedience to the words of Jesus.
Psalm 127:2 also talks about this, too. This is another family psalm and in the context of talking about the family God says, "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so he gives his beloved seep." In other words, "Stop worrying and trust the Lord!"
God not only promises to provide food but also clothing. I don't have time to shop for clothes, but God is my shopper. He sends along clothes that people no longer want. They are always perfect for what I need. I find God is a better provider of clothes than I am. This has been my experience for just on 70 years!

God will Supply all your Needs

Philippians 4:16 says, "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Sometimes Abased and Sometimes Abounding

Paul's testimony in Philippians 4:11-12  is, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."
Although God has promised to provide for us, there are often times when we don't live in the lap of luxury. We scarcely make it! The amazing thing is that even when we hardly know where the next mouthful is coming from, we don't starve! God is faithful! Paul knew how to be hungry and how to abound. The NLT says, "I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength."
I remember one time when we were going through a very lean time. The only food we had in the house was potatoes! Praise the Lord we had potatoes. Think of the Israelites who only had manna for 40 years! Some friends arrived at our door one lunchtime. I felt embarrassed to invite them  to lunch with only potatoes on the menu! However, I swallowed my pride and asked them to join us for our meal of potatoes.
I placed the bowl of potatoes in the middle of the table and we all partook together and had wonderful fellowship. They didn't mind that there was no variety on the menu! In fact, it is well over 20 years since that incident and my friends still remember that lunchtime with great joy. They say that if we had had a sumptuous meal they would not have forgotten it. But they have always remembered their lunch of "potatoes only!"
We can learn to laugh and praise God in the lean times and in the abounding times. Even in the lean times, God will never forsake us. Praise His wonderful name!
It is true that life is not perfect. Each one of us faces difficulties. We have been promised that we will have afflictions and persecution, but even in the midst of these circumstances we can trust God.
Psalm 34:19 says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." Claim this wonderful promise.

Be Content because God will Never forsake You!

Hebrews 13:5-6 says, "Be content with such things as you have. For he himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"
Did you notice the words, "Be content?" 1 Timothy 6:6-8 sys, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. And have food and clothing, with these we will be content." We certainly don't have to have everything we think we need. We all have more than we need. Our homes are filled with unnecessary "stuff." We need to eliminate rather than accumulate!
Wuest's Greek Word Studies says of this Scripture: "There are three negatives before this word (leave), making the promise one of triple assurance. It is, ‘I will not, I will not, I will not let thee down, leave thee in the lurch, leave thee destitute, leave thee in straits and helpless, abandon thee.' All of which means that our God will come to our rescue when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances."
The following is Wuest's translation of this Scripture. "Let your manner of life be without love of money, being satisfied with your present circumstances. For He Himself has said, and the statement is on record, I will not, I will not cease to sustain and uphold you. I will not, I will not, I will not let you down. So that, being of good courage, we say, The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What shall man do to me?"
How can we doubt God when we have such a wonderful promise? We are either a believer or an unbeliever!

Cultivate a Garden

God reminds us in the Scriptures that His plan is for each family to keep a garden to help provide food for their family. The first home, which was the prototype of all homes to come, was called the "Garden of Eden." The first home was a garden and consequently God intends all homes to have a garden! Many of us are rather slack on this principle, aren't we?
Genesis 2:15 tells us the first thing God did after creating the first garden home, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it." The word "tend" is avad in the Hebrew and means "to work hard even until fatigued, to till, to plow." This command was given before the Fall! The word "keep" is shamar and means "to guard, to protect, to preserve."
You may say, "Help, that may be okay for you, but we live in the city with hardly any space." It's amazing what you can do if you set your heart to it. We live in the country but the land on our hill is clay and rock. We had to make garden beds and buy in our dirt to start our garden. You may have better soil than we have, but not much room. Make a small garden or grow tomatoes, lettuces and herbs in containers on your deck. There is always some way you can do it.
The following are further Scriptures that remind us of this important provision principle:
Proverbs 12:11, "He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding." Read also Proverbs 28:19.
Proverbs 24:27, "Prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterwards build your house."
Proverbs 27:18, "Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit."
Proverbs 31:16, "She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard." This Scripture is often taken out of context with women saying they are free to get into a career outside of the home. No, this Scripture is in the context of the home and feeding the family. As the family grows, she needs more land to plant more vineyards which were survival for every Israeli family in those days. The mothers' management of the home, not only included her home, but her garden and growing food for the family.
Jeremiah 29:4-5, "Thus says the Lord of hosts; the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit." This commandment was given to the exiles in Babylon.  Even in their captivity God wanted them to continue the principle of planting gardens for their food.
2 Corinthians 9:6, "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." Read also Proverbs 6:6-11.

Dare we Question God?

Psalm 78:18-25, 32, 41, says,
"And they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy.
Yes, they spoke against God: They said, ‘Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
Behold he struck the rock, so that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Can he provide meat for his people?'
Therefore the Lord heard this and was furious; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel,
Because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in his salvation.
Yet he had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven,
Had rained down manna on them to eat, and given them of the bread of heaven.
Men ate angels' food; he sent them food to the full...
In spite of this they still sinned, and did not believe in his wondrous works... Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel."
"Can God provide for us?" "Can God provide for another baby?" When we ask these "Can God?" questions we openly state that we do not believe God is who He says He is. We actually speak against God. How can we call ourselves believers if we do not believe? It is hypocrisy.
Hebrews 4:2 says "For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it." We have read al the above wonderful Scriptures about God providing for the children He gives. But it is not enough to read them. We must believe them! If we don't believe them, thank God for them and trust in these promises (even when things look impossible) they won't profit us. The Word of God must be mixed with faith in our hearts. Romans 14:23 says, "Whatever is not from faith is sin."

God does not Provide before the Baby Comes, but After the Baby Comes!

May God fill your heart with faith to trust God. He is faithful. You can trust Him. God is the author of life. He loves to give life. He looks for life. We read about this in Malachi 2:13-15. God looks for godly offspring from our union together. When God gives life, He promises to provide for this life. He doesn't provide before the baby comes, but when He sends the baby, He will miraculously send the provision.
Don't expect to have the provision in tact before you embrace having a child. Trust God. If He blesses you with a child (and you can only receive a child through His blessing) He will then provide for this precious baby.
May your life be a testimony to the people around you of God's faithfulness and provision. You do not have to strive and worry like the people of the world. As you walk in obedience to God's ways, you will see His provisions.


NANCY CAMPBELL
Above Rubies, www.aboverubies.org

All Scriptures, unless otherwise stated, are taken from the Revised Authorised Version. British edition 1982.


Last Updated on Monday, 22 November 2010 11:21

God is good, and His timing is perfect

We have been blessed by our sovereign father in Heaven.

We are ecstatically expecting, and are due in mid-late October. :-)

Ironically, our new pair of doves laid their first egg today as well:

Coincidence? Pretty cool, either way. :-)

GOD is good, all the time!! Praise the LORD for His faithfulness and unending mercy and grace. <3

A Calling

My husband announced his call to preach this past Wednesday night. Please continue in pray for his call to ministry to be fruitful, and that he be enabled by the Spirit at every turn, that God may work through his humble hands. Also that I will be made able to fill my role as complimentary to him, that I may enable him to fill the role that God has given to him. Thank you.

Sticks and Stones and the Power of the Tongue.

"Sticks and stones will break my bones but words can never hurt me!"

I think it is safe to presume that I am not the only one who remembers this little elementary rhyme. Yes, I remember it well. I was often the subject of the ridicule in school, which left me chanting this rhyme fervently back at my insulters as I sought out a quite place away from the harsh scrutiny of peers where I could brood in peace.

Yes, I was the class dork, geek, poor kid, ugly girl, you name it, I was it. BUT this is not about me, although God grants us just enough valleys to build the mountains on. Who would we be if we didn't learn from our past, praise God, and move on? :-)

So, this little rhyme hit me the other day while in prayer and I wasn't sure exactly WHY this was, until today.

While it may have been a good distraction to elementary aged school children, and while it may have saved the teachers a lot of trouble having to mediate between peers, it is totally unbiblical. Not to mention that it didn't work, because, lets face it, word DO hurt. A lot.

Proverbs 18:21 says:

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

We will get into more verses in a little while, but let's just take that ONE and chew on it for a second.

WOW! To say the least. To go from a teaching of words never hurting to a Scripture verse stating that the tongue holds the power of life and death? That's a big comparison. It leaves me with the haunting question of WHY the tongue holds so much power.

1- A false witness bearing a false report can decide life or death of someone, be it literally or figuratively. In an extreme case, a false witness in court can put a man in prison for the rest of his life, or on death row. In a less extreme case, a false witness among friends, especially those motivated by hurt, defense, and any other selfish cause, can cause death of friendships as friends decide to hang on the word of the false witness.

2- A false prophet can decide life or death of his or her followers by neglecting to teach the Gospel and the death, burial, and resurrection. This causes spiritual death, of course, which is the worst kind. Eternal total separation from God and suffering. Yea, that's pretty bad. Woe to those who lead the sheep astray.

3- Sticks and stones hurt the body, but words slice the soul. This body can heal, and will be no more when the LORD returns or when we died an earthly death, which ever comes first, but the soul will bear the marks of pain forever. They will heal, but scars will always remain, and unfortunately, the scars of the soul never cease to hurt completely like the scars of the flesh.

4- By a WORD a man is convicted, and by a WORD a man is freed.

There is, indeed, much power in the tongue.

"There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health."

Proverbs 12:18 (^above^) offers a bit of encouragement amongst a stern warning. There are people who speak like a piercing sword (I'm sure we all know people of 'sharp words'), BUT the tongue of the WISE is health! Like medicine to a wound? Or even preventative practice? And those words of health are equated to a man of WISDOM!

"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." (Proverbs 15:1)

Again, a worthy comparison between the damage of a harsh word versus the restorative power of the wise tongue.

"Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully." (Psalm 52:2)

Once again, the tongue equated to a sharp instrument, causing harm. Over and over again we see the power of the tongue in doing harm. 

You ready for this next one, Body of Christ? It may sting...

"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." (James 1:26)

There is it. If ANY member of the body shows and inability (or unwillingness as it is in most cases) to bridle her own tongue, she deceives herself, and her 'religion' is vain.

(vain adj. - characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance. egotistical, self-complacent, vainglorious, proud, arrogant, overweening, self-serving.)

"Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding." Proverbs 17:28

Even a FOOL who restrains his tongue is considered wise! Does that mean that a wise man who does NOT restrain his tongue is considered foolish? Seems so....

"Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Matthew 12:33-37

Our Lord's own Words, what comes out of your mouth is representative of your heart. No more of these "God knows my heart" excuses, Jesus gave us a measuring stick. If you speak lies, deceit, and filth, that IS what is in your heart, like it or not. And, by your WORDS will you be justified, and by your WORDS you will be condemned. Even your IDLE words.

"Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?" James 3:10-11

A word is a hefty thing, and the tongue is a HUGE responsibility.

"With great power comes great responsibility."

God offers many a promise to those who control their tongue:

"For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:" 1 Peter 3:10

"What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." Psalm 34:12-14

"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." Proverbs 21:23

"Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth." Proverbs 26:20

"In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." Proverbs 10:19

Yes, dear sisters, I believe that God's Word is True and the final authority on ALL subjects, and I believe that He has spoken completely and specifically on the subject of the tongue.

"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings," 1 Peter 2:1

"He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends." Proverbs 17:9

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Ephesians 4:29

Quite simple, really, once you get past the pride of life and the flesh. DON'T gossip, don't spread rumors - be they true or not, don't slander others, and especially don't LIE or STRETCH the TRUTH, for we know that God's Word says in Proverbs 12:22 that "Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight."

I know that we are all prone to temptation, especially us ladies (let's admit it now, hardly ever do men have the troubles like we do with gossip and slander), but it is IMPERATIVE that we continue to restrain ourselves and take it to the Lord, so that God may be glorified in every manner of our speech and actions.

Every time YOU open YOUR mouth, you hold the power of life and death. How you use that power is on you, and everyone WILL receive the reward that they have earned, be it good or bad. 

And build each other up, in love, so that we are accountable to each other as well. 

Reject not loving correction, because seeking pride will only lead to other sins. Take it to the Lord and into the Scriptures, and ask God to cleanse you, to purify you, and He has promised, He WILL do it.

All for HIS glory.

WASH DAY RECIPE

     

From Modest Handmaidens             

                

Monday -Washday  
Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and
Vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility
Through the week ahead.

Tuesday  -Ironing Day  
Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles
 Of prejudice I have collected through the years
So that I may see the beauty in others.

Wednesday -Mending Day  
O God, help me mend my ways so I will not
 Set a bad example for others.

Thursday -Cleaning Day
Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults
I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.

Friday -Shopping Day
O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others
  In need of love.

Saturday -Cooking Day
Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly
Love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.

Sunday  -The Lord's Day    
O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please
Come into my heart so I may spend the day and the
Rest of my life in your presence.

"Mimkhatah" Style Headcovering Sewing Tutorial

First, you will need a 20"x14" rectangle of the material of your choice, and a 46" length of the trim of your choice. (Fabrics that are not too stiff work best.)



1 - Hem the edges:

(I did a 1/2 inch hem with a zig zag stitch all the way around.)



2 - Gather the sides:



And the other side



*It will look like this when both sides are gathered:



3 - Pin on the trim...

(Make sure it is centered!)



Then sew it!



Tah-Dah!










Not so bad. :-)

As Sand Through The Hourglass...

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.


 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.


She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.


She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.


She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.


She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.


She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.


She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.


She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.


She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.


She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.


She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.


She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.


Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.


She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.


Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.


She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.


She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.


Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.


Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.


Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.


Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."


~Proverbs 31:10-31


Where, oh where, has the TIME gone?



As I pour over Proverbs 31 once again, I am struck newly by a pattern, not before percieved by my own heart. Let's take a look at some of the "key words" that scream at me from the pages of my King James Bible, begging my attention and study:

A virtuous woman, what of her?

1 - She does her husband good.

2 - She seeks wool and flax.

3 - She works willingly with her hands.

4 - She rises early and gives meat to her household.

5 - She considers a field.

6 - She buys said field.

7 - She plants said field and nurtures a vineyard.

8 - She girds herself with strength.

9 - She percieves that her merchandise is good.

10 - She works late.

11 - She makes garments for her household with her own hands.

12 - She stretches out her hand to the poor and needy.

13 - She makes fine linen and sells it.

14 - She speaks with wisdom.

15 - She looks well to the ways of her household.

16 - She eats not the bread of idleness.

Wow!

That's a big order to fill, if I do say so myself, especially in today's time.

Now, when I read this, I am reminded of something else, another woman of character and virtue that I read about as a child. Her name being Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Her stories are rich with true tales of what it was like to live on the frontiers in the times before modern convinences. Before electricity, before cars, before washing machines, dishwashers, and the like. Before a minimum wage was set and before the government stepped in and decided that they knew better.



Back in times where women ran a house, raised multiple children, and went to bed at night ready to get up and do it all again simply because that's how it was done. There was no other way.

Here's the kicker, they managed to get it ALL done.

Every day.

(winces while stones are hurled)

But seriously! Did they not?

The menfolk worked, and the good woman and wife worked at home. Raised the kids, taught them, kept the house in order, kept it CLEAN (cause they had no other choice, being without Lysol and surrounded by wilderness and all), and still managed to read their BIbles every night, go to church on Sundays, and even manage a barn raising or quilting party every once in a while.



The women folk cared for the animals and a portion of the fields (if not all of them) while their husbands worked 12-15 hour days earning a meager income. They milked the cows, fed and collected eggs from the chickens, slopped the hogs, churned the butter, hooped the cheese, canned the goods, salt cured the meat, managed three meals a day, sometimes more if there was company, on an old wood burning stove that takes HOURS to cook a decent meal sometimes, while toting a baby on each hip! They really did! They did it because that's what they had to do, and they took joy in it, because it was their job. They realized how precious every potato was, knowing that if the weather had been any more tempermental, they would have gone hungry over the winter.



What HAPPENED??

Here it is, 2011 now, and we are SWAMPED with modern convinences. Things that were invented to make the homemaker's life easier: The dishwasher, the washing machine, the dryer, electricity, natural gas appliances, central heat and air for a majority, to name a few! We can go to the grocery store and in an hour get food to last us a month! We can go to Walmart and buy clothing for everyone. I am willing to bet that 90% of young women today know how to practice birth control but have never even desired to TOUCH a sewing machine (which are all new and jazzed up, all you have to do is guide the fabric and push a pedal down...), so goes the lost art of craftsmanship.

We have all of these things, yet each day I am bombarded with countless women complaining about how they don't have enough time to do this or do that, or bemoaning the fact that they have to do the same thing over and over, etc.

Looking at the past, please, someone tell me, where has the time gone?

Have the days gotten drastically shorter??

No, I don't think so...

Have they?

But seriously, what's up ladies?

I rarely ask a question that I don't already know the answer to, but you aren't gonna like my answer.

I'll warn you now, this will step on some toes. I promise you that it square dances vigorously on mine as I type this. This will cause me much hurt in my heart, this will cause me to lose friends, and this will likely cause me to ask myself why I even try.

Want to hear the answer?

Why are women so strapped for time nowadays, not getting their houses in order each day, complaining that they just don't have a chance to get it all done?

...

Selfishness.

Self-indulgence.

Self-centeredness.

All of this bred into a self-righteous laziness.

I NEED this "me time" or "venting time" or "social time" on the phone/internet or with friends.

I NEED time to kick my feet up and relax.

I NEED this bubble bath time, or this reading time.

And our husbands have been duped into BELIEVING this feminist LIE!

Honey, the ONLY thing that you and I NEED in this life is JESUS!

Facebook comes last.

Myspace (if anyone uses that anymore) comes last.

CafeMom comes last.

All social networking sites come last.

The phone gossip/chat session with that friend that you haven't talked to in ages comes last.

BLOGGING even comes last.

TV/Netflix comes last.

Family game time comes last.

EVERYTHING else comes last.

AFTER the chores have been done.

After the dinner has been put away and after the dishes are clean (and dear, if your husband goes to work to provide your household money to be able to enjoy that house that you are living in, do not expect HIM to do the dishes).

After laundry is done and after the kids are asleep or otherwise occupied to the extent that they do not need mommy at the moment.

No children ever grew up loathing their parents for getting chores done before everyone sat down to play video games as a family! In fact, they helped out so that game time would come faster!

As women, as Christian women and homemakers, we are endowed with a great and high calling. It is not your house that you clean if you claim the name of Christ, it is God's house. Would you go to bed and leave the house unkempt if it was God's house? Would you let God come home to a pigsty? Honestly.

The great women of the past, from Eve to the recent women of the Revolutionary Era, knew a thing or two about keeping a home and doing a husband good all the days of their lives. They had no choice.

The devil loves excuses. He will shovel them into your mind and mouth given the chance, and laugh in utter bliss while doing it.

A battle for your home is raging, and YOU must be the one to make the wise decisions.

There is a price that comes with convenince, and it is called the temptation to indulge in slothfulness.

Am I saying that every home must be spotless with everything in place all the time? No! Absolutely not! It is impossible. I am saying, however, that there is a big difference between a disorder due to a current activity and a mess that no one has felt obliged to clean up in over a week. There is a difference between toys in the floor because children are playing now, and toys that are shoved into a corner, or under beds, or anywhere else because people are too busy with idle things to pick them up and put them away properly.

We are not called to keep cover models for Good Housekeeping Magazine, but we are called to be homemakers, homekeepers, and to be busy at home.

If God places so much emphasis on that, they why are we tempted to brush housework off as a necessary evil?

If God thought so highly of the Proverb's 31 woman, why do we so quickly dismiss her as an impossible goal?

No, we may not make our own clothing anymore as she did, or plant vineyards, but there is something that we CAN take away from her story: She was at home, and she was busy.

She worked WILLINGLY with her hands.

She had a job to do, and she did it. She didn't bemoan it or dread it. She just did it and rejoiced in it.

Now, honestly, I want you to think about this next question for a bit, and chew on it for a while.

You ready for this?

If you were given the fruit of YOUR hands as a reward (31:31), what would YOU have? What kind of reward would that be for you?

Philippians 2:14 instructs us to "Do all things without murmurings and disputings"

1 Corinthians says "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Colossians 3:17 says also "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

We are suppose to do what we need to do, and do it cheefully, without complaint, as if we were doing it for God directly.

This includes changing that fifteenth poopy diaper of the day, cleaning the dishes once again, cleaning up that spill that a child carelessly induced, vacuuming, straightening, cleaning, scrubbing, washing, drying, laundering, wiping, bathing little ones, making, turning down, sweeping, mopping, everything that is included within the parameters of homemaking and housekeeping. Yes, even the umpteen millionth time in a row. Do it, and do it with a smile!

I am by no means perfect, not by a long shot. I don't have it all together, and I am still growing in Christ just like all of us are. This is a daily conscious decision for me to undertake, just as it is or will be for everyone who may happen across this blog post. That doesn't mean that I can't strive to be holy, as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16) though. That doesn't give me free lisence to buy excuses and use them to my selfish advantage, as tempting as it may be at times. God is still God, and His commands and instruction still stand, no matter how many times I fail them. I delight in the Law of the Lord (Psalm 119).

All I am asking, is that we reevaluate our hearts, our minds, and ourselves at every angle. If they did it back in "the day", we can most certainly manage now with all of these modern contraptions. It's just a matter of heart and time management. No more excuses, no more worldly hearts and attitudes of "it's good enough so that I can go have some 'off' time." I'm sure your husband will understand if your movie has to wait 30 minutes while you straighten up the house that he provides for, and God will delight in it!

Don't give Satan a foothold by buying into his excuses and mumerings of how things would be better if you just slacked off this once. Old habits are hard to break, so break them while they are young.

I had to discover all of this on my own, and I do not doubt that many will leave this with a hard and bitter heart and have to learn it on their own too. I've been in those shoes. Boy how I look back now and kick myself for not listening to the wise instructors who tried to teach me to be a TRUE manager of my home.

(... Grandma, if you ever get internet enough to read my blog, you have so much of a right to point your finger at me and say "See!!! I told ya so!!" Love you!!)

Where does YOUR time go, as a Christian woman called by God to be at home?

Can you chart it? Would you be willing to keep track of your time spent on each pursuit for a week, then tally up how much time is taken up by idle things (things not needed while other things needed sit unfinished)? You will be shocked, I can assure you. Ten minutes here, an hour here, or a half hour there doesn't seem like much, but it adds up.

If we are honest with ourselves, If we have time to sit and chat on social networking sites, or read (or write) blogs, we have time to get that laundry done that we have been complaining about not being able to get on top of. It might not be fun, and it might not satisfy that lazy, slothful, selfish side of us that feels entitled to a "break" every once in a while, or more as habits go the older they get, but it is what needs to be done, and it is what God expects from us, so we do it anyways, and with a heart of rejoicing and gladness to be able to serve the Lord.

How do you spend your time? And how could you spend it more wisely? No matter what the circumstances, each and every one of us can ALWAYS do better. Don't let the devil fool you. This life is imperfect, so we will never attain perfection, meaning that there is always room for improvement.

Let's strive to do that, for God, for our husbands, for our children, and for the home that God has blessed us with.

USE those modern contraptions, by all means, but use them with bold gladness that you don't have to scrub the hand-spun wash on an iron board and hang them to dry, even in the winter. Seek to keep your home in order, because if the surroundings are in order, the rest will follow. The same is also true of chaos and stress, so be careful which way you turn your sails. If your house is in chaos, your heart and mind will be stressed. In my experience, both in myself and observing others, stress comes not from having to clean house, but from outside sources that are given too much power over our lives, and from a heart that is discontent with the Lord.

And do all things for the glory of God, for He sees what no one else sees, and He will reward it.

Work so that if you were given the [material] fruit of your hands, it would be worth it.

And learn from the example of our great women in history, even if their names have been long forgotten, like the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. Her name may not have been recorded but her deeds and legacy have earned her a place in the Book that will outlast all material things.

And note also that I am speaking to myself as much as, if not more than, any others. Remember, life is 70% how you take it, and 30% what you make it. You can either curse the one that caused you pain, even if unintentionally, or you can first go before God and ask why it hurts or offends so much.

NEVER put off til tomorrow what should be done today, because tomorrow never comes, it's always a day away. So goes the habit of procrastination.

It took me running a poorly managed household, then losing it all and having idle hands with nothing to manage, no matter how well or poorly, to learn this cold, hard Truth. It took my husband losing his TV and game system to the hands of a thief for me to learn exactly how abundant time actually is without worldly distractions, managed wisely. It took all of this that has happened over the past two months to show me how they did it, and how they did it well; those women of yesteryear. My eyes have been opened, PRAISE THE LORD! and I know that it IS possible, if my heart is contented enough in God's Word and in my God-given role to let it be so. I pray that others might learn from MY mistakes so that their road can be a bit less harsh in the ways of learning. Still, I know others must learn for themselves, and I understand this extensively. Honestly, though, if I can make that conscious decision every day, with five children under six and while battling chronic fatigue from an iron deficiency and fibromyalgia flare ups, among other physical ailments, I have faith that you can too. By the power of Christ in us, whom in our weakness is made strong.

All for HIS glory, Christ Jesus.