Words





“Be careful for the words you say;

Keep them soft and sweet.

You never know from day to day,

Which ones you’ll have to eat!”

~Author Unknown

Our words can build up or tear down.

As a mother of small children it can be so easy to say things that sharp or abrupt.

A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Proverbs 15: 1 & 4

 Are we teaching our children to be kind to each other and use kind words when talking to each other? 

Do we as mothers practice kindness to our children in the words and the tone of voice we use when we talk to them and even when we correct them?

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

Lord, help me to use soft words to my children today.

Serve in Love



I have been reading in Galatians and this morning in my quiet time I was convicted that I needed to serve more in Love.

Galatians 5:13 the end part tells us to "serve one another in Love."

This is something I fall short of and need to work on.

So many times it is easy to do what I have to do because it needs to be done but I don't do it because I love my family and I want to serve them in Love.

It is so easy do what I have to do but do it with a grumbling heart.

Lord help me to serve in Love.

Help me to serve my family with Love today, to do thing things I have to do out of love and not out of the wrong motives.

Help me to be an example of you to my children.

Let all that you do be done in Love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Serve in Love



Focus on the Big Picture

When opening a box of a puzzle and looking at all the pieces I would think it is hard to believe that ALL these pieces could end up to look like the beautiful picture that is on the lid of the box. 

There are so many pieces and in so many shapes how can all this make any sense at all. 

As we are putting the puzzle together we need to keep looking back at the lid because it shows us what the puzzle is to look like.

Looking at the pieces and details of my life sometimes it reminds be of a puzzle with all the many pieces in so many shapes and with no rhyme or reason to it by itself. 

God has given us a Bigger picture of what we are to look at and model ourselves after that is His Son Jesus. 

Jesus shows is a perfect reflection of The Father. 

 He is the example we are to pattern our lives after.

We need to constantly be looking at Jesus the Bigger Picture of what the puzzle of our lives need to look like. 

He is the only thing that will bring rhyme and reason to all the details. 

He is the only Big Picture that I want to be looking at as I assemble the pieces of my life with His help.
Jesus I give you all the pieces of my life please help me to always look to you as my model and see you as the Bigger Picture.

Linked to:
Making your Home Sing
Homestead Barn Hop
Raising Homemakers
Time Warp Wife
Domestically Divine
Encouraging one Another
Women Living Well
A Holy Experience

Praying the Bible for Your Children

Praying the Bible For Your Children

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

When I feel tense and short-tempered, help me to take a deep breath and remember that love is patient (v. 4).

When I am wrapped up in my own to-do lists, remind me to take time to pay attention and be kind to my children (v. 4).

When I am tempted to compare my kids with other people's kids, help me to remember that genuine love doesn't express itself through envying - or boasting, either (v. 4).

When I discipline or reprimand my kids, help me to check my tone of voice and expression, remembering that love is not rude (v. 5).

When my kids argue, beg, or whine, remind me that love is always slow to anger (v. 5).

When I'm at my wit's end and tempted to give my kids a quick rundown of all the things they've done wrong in the past few days to bring me to this point, remind me that love doesn't keep a record of wrongs (v. 5).

When I feel twinges of smugness about another parent's failures, remind me that love doesn't rejoice over bad news but when good happens (v. 6).

When I'm ready to take a foolish risk with my children's safety because I'm too distracted or too tired to insist on precautions, remind me that love always protects (v. 7).

When I'm reluctant to let my child take on challenges he seems ready for, remind me to trust You and what You're doing in my child (v. 7).

When I'm discouraged about my child's progress in a certain area, remind me that love always hopes, even in the face of setbacks (v. 7).

When I'm tired and feeling like I just can't parent well, remind me that love never gives up (v. 7).

How I thank You, Lord, for the power of love in action. Thank You that if I parent with love and by the power of Your Spirit, I cannot fail (v. 8).

~David & Heather Kopp


Linked to:
Making your home sing
Women Living Well
Far Above Rubies.
Modern Vintage Homemaking

Contentment

Discontentment happens when I don't have what I want.
Contentment happens when I realize I have so much more than I deserve.

Three Gates

If you are tempted to reveal

A tale to you someone has told

About another, make it pass,

Before you speak, three gates of gold.

These narrow gates: First, "Is it true?"

Then, "Is it needful?" In your mind

Give a truthful answer. And the next

Is last and narrowest, "Is it kind?"

And if to reach your lips at last

It passes through these gateways three,

Then you may tell the tale, nor fear

What the result of speech may be.

---Author Unknown

A Mother's Prayer

Oh give me patience when wee hands

Tug at me with their small demands.

And give me gentle and smiling eyes.

Keep my lips from hasty replies.

And let not weariness, confusion, or noise

Obscure my vision from life's fleeting joys.

So when, in years to come my house is still-

No bitter memories its rooms may fill.


Linked to:
Far Above Rubies
Raising Homemakers
Time-Warp-Wife
Barn Hop
Women Living Well
WFMW
Biblical Womanhood
Raising Mighty Arrows
Teach Me Tuesday

Life is worth the Living because My Savior Lives

God is Close to the Broken-Hearted

  The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit

~ Psalm 34:18

"Dear sweet mother, why do you cry?

Don't you know that your God is nigh?

He is closer to you than your very breath,

He will never forsake you, not even in death.

He created you for His joy and pleasure

And has chosen you as a special treasure,

He has graven your name on His very own palm,

He'll come to your aid with His mighty right arm.

He is your Source, He will fill your cup,

When you are down, He will lift you up.

You don't have to stay sad, for He is your Joy,

He'll help you to conquer those things that annoy.

God has given you children, which are your glory

To enrich your life and help write your story,

You're in God's perfect will for this is your calling,

He'll help you each day and keep you from falling.

You can't do it alone for your strength is weak,

Trust in the Lord and things won't seem so bleak.

Look to the Lord, not the problems you face,

You'll be amazed the way He gives you His grace.

A joyful mother is what He wants you to be,

Filling your home with gladness and glee,

Counting your blessings and praising the Lord

For His daily mercies and love out-poured."

~ Poem wrote by Nancy Campbell of Above Rubies

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

~ Psalm 30:5

Linked to:

Homemaker by choice

No Ordinary Blog Hop

Making your Home Sing

Homestead Blog Hop

Domestically Divine

Homemaking Link up

Women Living Well

Works for Me Wednesday

Time-Warp Wife

Steadfast

Tomorrow morning when I wake up I will have no assurance in what the price of gas may be has it jumped another 3 cents overnight?  I have heard it said that the only things in life that are certain are death and takes.

In a world where everything seems to change from one time to the next the word you feel like you can't be certain in "things." 

However, when I wake tomorrow morning I will be certain that God is steadfast He is a place of refuge.

The Steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children.

Psalms 103:17

We can count on the Lord to be a refuge He doesn't change. 

He is the same yesterday, today and forever.



I Can Trust Jesus

I am so glad that I can Trust Jesus and that He takes care of me.



Love and Coffee

I am not a coffee drinker I never cared for the bitter coffee taste.  To me coffee is sharp and bitter, however if you make it into a cappuccino with sugar and cream I really love that.

Sometimes loving people is like this.  Some people don't make it easy to love them.  Like coffee they are sharp and bitter.  These people put a bitter taste in your mouth.  However with God we can put on love like the sugar and cream in a cup of coffee. 

Just like it takes sugar and cream for me to enjoy the coffee I must have the love of God and put on sweetness in order to love others as we are commanded to.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

John 13:34

Links:

Making my home sing

Domestically Divine

Our Simple Country Life

We are that family

Trials

Do you ever feel like the troubles and trials will never end?

Do you feel like it is one thing after another? 

Do you ever think when will things start getting better? 

I will admit there are times when I have felt that way.

This past week has been one filled with a lot of trials. 

I appreciate so much what God is doing in my heart and life.

"A trial is a difficult circumstance allowed by God to transform me conduct and my character."

~James MacDonald

My prayer is that through my trials I would bring Glory to Him by the way I act and the things I say.

I want the Lord to build True Character in my life and shape my conduct for His Glory.

To Live for God's Glory is my highest Aim.

Discontentment or Contentment

Discontentment happens when I don't have what I want.

Contentment happens when I realize I have so much more than I deserve.

A prayer for the overwhelmed

Do you ever feel overwhelmed?

These past 2 weeks have been super crazy busy we have had something going almost every day.

I think summer always seems busier than winter.

My to do list seems like it never ends (that is all the time thought not just summer).

I just feel like I never get everything done.

Dishes are always in the sink.

Laundry always in the basket.

And then there are Church activities, family outings, etc etc etc.

Are you like me do you overwhelmed sometimes?

Several days ago I came upon this prayer from Nancy Leigh DeMoss of Revive our Hearts.

"Father, I confess that I often fill my life with things that are earthly and temporal.  I want to spend my life being and doing what is pleasing to You.  May the things that matter most to You matter most to me.  May Your Word be a light to show me Your agenda for each season of my life.

Help me to be sensitive to Your Spirit and to know what is on Your-to-do list for every day of my life.  Please show me how to fulfill my distinctive calling and priorities,  Give me the wisdom and courage to eliminate from my schedule any activities that are not Your will for me at this time.  Help me to live my life in the light of eternity.

And may I be able to say at the end of my life, as Jesus did "I glorify you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do" (John 17:4).  In Jesus' name.  Amen."

I have made this a prayer of mine lately.  On days when I feel so overwhelmed I am so glad I can talk to the Father about it. 

Casting all your cares upon him, because he cares for you.

~ 1 Peter 5:7

Linked to:

Woman Living Well

We are that Family

Simply Homemaking

Domestically Divine

Time-warp-wife

The Good old Days

 I love the yester era dress and simpleness. 

Things seem so much slower and less hectic then these current days do.  Sometimes we long for the simpler times. 
The problems of the past seem like they would be so much easier to deal with then our problems are today. 
I have heard Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles tell stories of the past that seem so fascinating. 
I have heard people say so many times that they miss the good old days.
When the pressures seem to be pressing in we sometimes ask ourselves, what happened? 
How did I get to this place where I am at?

I myself have thought back to when I was a child and a youth remembering how life seemed easier.  Things seemed so much cheaper, I did not have the responsibilities of finances etc. as well as the world seemed so much more innocent then it does now.

Sometimes the good old days seem better before we lost a loved one, lost a job, got sick...

We think we would love to go back to _______ .

However, no matter how fond that memory or time seemed we cannot go back.

Then I came upon this verse the other day.

Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?"

For it is not from wisdom that we ask this.

Ecclesiastes 7:10

We may not be able to change what is or has happened or the circumstances we are in but we can change the way we think about them.

If we compare then with now it is easier to remember the past as such a great or better time because our memory is selective. 

When circumstances seem overwhelming instead of comparing it would be better to look upward instead of backwards and in the looking upward to God we can find HOPE in Him.

When we look to God and into His word we can realize that today is better than Yesterday.

After all God has brought us to where we are today.

And God is good ALL the time.

God has a purpose and a plan for everything.

Hope is not in the future nor is it lost in the past, True Hope can only be found in the Lord.

LINKS:

Our Simple Country Life

A Fathers approval

I have seen my children go way out of their norm just to do things that would please their Daddy.

I have seen my daughter glow when her Daddy calls her his "little girl."

I have seen my son choose to leave some free or play time he was having so that he could help his Dad do a job that was a lot harder and a lot less pleasent.

Just to be in his Daddy's presence and spend time with him was more important to him than the easy way out.

My children rejoice when they know that Daddy is home from work, it is like they are saying "Daddy is home and he will take care of us."

My children just love to have their dad give them a hug and and let them know he loves them.

A child needs their Fathers affirmation in their lives.

A mother is great for giving comfort, fixing boo boos and staying up all night with a sick child.

However, a child yearns for their Fathers approval.

They long to hear "great job" and see that smile of approval that only a Father can give.

Children want and need their Father to show them and tell them that He loves them.

As Christians we all long to please our Heavenly Father as well.

We strive to Glorify Him with our lives.

At the end of our earthly life our goal is to hear "Well done my good and faithful servant."

Linked to:
Spiritual Sudays

Wearing Skirts - She wears skirts

Amy and Caroline did a series called She wears skirts check it out.

My daughter and I wear skirts and dresses all the time.

Here are a few pictures of my daughter.

This is a special picture taken on a date night with her Daddy.

They went to a Father Daughter Banquet.

She had such a special time.

Taking a nature walk this past fall and collecting some treasures to make some potpourri

Taken on Mothers Day at Bluebird Gardens

Contentment

for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

Phil 4:11 b

I have been recently been convicted about contentment.

There is a situation we have been praying for for several years now.

God has not answered our prayers the way we have asked Him to.

This does not mean that He does not answer prayers just not the way we asked.

Sometimes God answers our prayers "wait" or even "no" and that can be so hard.

We live in a society that says I want it and I want it NOW.

It is so easy to trust God when you are up on the mountain and life is going easy.  Sometimes though we are not on the mountain, sometimes we are down in the valley.

In the valley life don't look the same, things are harder.

If we trust God wherever we are in our lives we will know contentment weather times are easy or hard.  God knows better then we do He made us and He can direct our lives better than we can.

We can find peace in Him during the HARD times because He is good and He has everything under His control. 

Good times and hard times will come and go but contentment is available to all who are in Christ.



Storms, tornadoes, whatever may come God is still in control

We had several calls from relitves this evening that we were in the path of the Tornado warning.

Not having a TV we often don't know when things are happening.

My hubby kept an eye on the sky going in and out of the house. 

One time he was out there quite a while when he came in he told us that we needed to go to the basement now.

The children were a little scared and I tried assuring them that God had everything under control and even if the tornado did come that it was God's will. 

I know that there have been so many tornado's lately but God is still God and He has everything under  His control.

The Bible says:

That God even notices if a sparrow falls.

Matthew 10:29

He will sure watch out for us.

 I am amazed how that even in the storm how the Lord can give us His peace.

Thank you Lord for watching over us.

After the storm passed there was a beautful rainbow in the sky. 

It was great to be able to use this as a God moment with my children.

God s good ALL the time. 

Through storm or trial or whatever may come my way.

He is still God and he has EVERYTHING under His control.

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Healthy Home