Revelation 3:18

I have been listening to a great podcast by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (founder of the Revive our Hearts women's ministry and creator of the 30 Day Challenges) about overcoming. One of the episodes focused on Jesus addressing the lukewarm church at Laodecia. After chastening them for their pride and level of comfort in their material wealth He says:

"I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see (NKJV)"

What a beautiful verse! Jesus says they are nothing, despite their material wealth and fine garments, because they lack being on fire for God. Their eyes are closed. Jesus implores the people of the church of Laodecia to find their riches in His promises. He wants to clothe them in His righteousness. He wants them to understand His ways and that they will allow Him to open their eyes to the truth.

We should want to take the riches that are given only by Christ, clothe ourselves in His garments of white and apply His holy salve to our blinded eyes so that we may see.

A Collection of Links

I am so sorry to have not posted in a few days. With Christmas a week away things have been quite busy in our home. There have been recipes to test, presents to make and wrap, last-minute grocery store trips to stock up on food items so we won't be lost in the pre-holiday pandemonium next week. I've mostly been focusing on those tasks and God's Word.

I have, however, come up with a few great websites for you dear ladies to visit. These are blogs and websites I have read carefully to insure they are in line with the Scriptures and do not use certain advertisements that contain suggestive pictures and/or phrases. I hope you will be as blessed by them as I have.

"A Wise Woman Builds Her Home" blog.

Mrs. Fuentes is a godly wife and mother to ten precious blessings. She covers a wide range of topics and her posts are biblically sound.

Above Rubies

A website offering encouragement to women seeking God's high calling as wife and mother.

"Domestic Felicity" blog

Mrs. Anna T is a beautiful Jewish wife, mother and homemaker living in Israel.

Young Ladies Christian Fellowship

Featuring articles on purposeful singleness, biblical femininity, modesty, marriage, motherhood and homemaking.

Frugal Abundance

Great articles on modesty, cooking, marriage and motherhood.

Prairie Homemaker

My favorite Christian ladies' forum.

Your Sacred Calling

Another wonderful blog with entries covering a wide range of topics pertaining to Christian wife and motherhood.

It's Almost Christmas!

In just about two weeks it will be Christmas day. I am thrilled to say I am almost finished! I have made a roll-up crochet hook case and packed some yarn in a box to send to a dear friend in Washington state. I am still knitting a hat for her. It's not quite halfway complete. I finished the crocheted octopus for my son's stocking. All I need to do is get something for my husband and purchase some little trinkets at the Dollar Tree to fill the battery operated grabber machine we got for the Little Guy.

A Cheerful Heart

Today we took our family Christmas pictures. It was a lot of fun, but trying to wrangle eleven people (two of which are small children) and get everyone dressed and looking their best is no simple task. Today some things got pushed to the back burner in preparation for taking the photos. One of those tasks was the dishes. In a house this big even one meal can load the sink with dirty dishes. I ran a load in the dishwasher last night which needed to be unloaded before we could load the dirty dishes in.

As I faced the mountain of dishes there was a part of me that wished someone else would do them for me, or if I ignored them long enough they'd just go away on their own. And then I was reminded of Proverbs 15:13 (KJV) which says:

"A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.:

I felt the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit telling me to be glad that I have a faithful husband who works hard outside of the home so that I can stay at home and tend to the family. I smiled and grabbed the scrubbing brush and dish soap with a sense of gladness in my heart. It's amazing how quickly our mundane tasks go by when we have a merry heart as we do them.

Don't get me wrong - I am a fallen human being and I have normal human emotions. I am not a Stepford Wife who smiles every time a crisis arises and says, "oh, happy day! I'm so glad things are falling apart around me!" With that said, if I let everything I do around here get me down I would have a broken spirit, which is completely contrary to what the Lord wants for us. He says in Matthew 11:28-30:

"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

God's intent is for us to have a merry heart and be free from our burdens, for Christ bore that burden for us on the cross. The other day I observed something quite disheartening, and I shared this with my mother. I said, "have you ever noticed when you're out in public how many people just look angry, frustrated and sad?" People don't smile any more. They grit their teeth as they yank their children around the grocery store and load their carts up with unhealthy convenience foods, for the prospect of cooking frustrates them even further. They are short with the cashiers because they are in a hurry and don't want to be doing what they are doing. Maybe they are women working a job in which they are degraded by their employers and wish they could be at home with their children. Perhaps it is a husband who is upset that he knows when he gets home he will be greeted with a messy, disorganized home and a wife with a nagging spirit.

What sort of testimony could we be for the Lord if we went out in public with a spirit of gladness, a merry heart and a cheerful countenance? How much would we bless our families if we approached life knowing that Jesus has asked us to take His yoke, for it is easy and light?

The Fruit of Her Hands

Proverbs 31:31 (NKJV)

"Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates."

What are the fruit of our hands? As wives and mothers are our hands spent doing things that bless our families and honor Christ? Our hands serve many purposes throughout the average day. In fact, anyone who has ever broken or otherwise injured their hand, they know just much we take our hands for granted.

How have your blessed your family with your hands today? Did you make your family a hot, nutritious breakfast? Did you sew that button on your husband's dress shirt? Did you braid a young daughter's hair? Did you sign Christmas cards? There are so many ways we can use our hands to be a ministry to others. There are, likewise, ways we can use our hands in a manner that does not bless our family.

How many women spend more time on the internet talking about their marriage and children and tell their husband, "give me just one more minute!" when he needs to talk with her? How often do the children get shushed and shooed out of the room when Mom is busy sending e-mails, blogging or chatting? Perhaps you don't have issues in regards to time management and internet usage, but are you putting your family in debt by unwisely using the convenience of click and ship online shopping?

If you find your hands are idle throughout the day, perhaps it is time to take up a hobby that will be both enjoyable and useful to yourself and your family. Knitting, crocheting, sewing, embroidery, loom weaving, gardening - all wonderful ways for us to busy our hands in a manner that will bless our families.

Blessing our Family

Proverbs 31:10-12 (NKJV)

"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

So he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good, and not evil, all the days of her life."

I must admit, I am fascinated by the Duggar family. I watch their series on TLC whenever I get the chance. It saddens me to read a lot of the harsh criticism they receive. If people would actually watch the show they would see a godly, loving family. You see a husband who adores and treasures his wife. You see a wife who respects and honors her husband. You see two people who are raising up godly children and work together in this enormous task. Their eldest son, John, and his wife also have a precious marriage and have started a family of their own.

People take issue with the Duggars, yet practically foam at the mouth over the Gosselins. Why is that? I, personally, could not bring myself to watch more than one episode of "Jon & Kate Plus 8". I found the amount of negative tension toward the children and utter disrespect between Jon and Kate disheartening. The difference between Michelle Duggar and Kate Gosselin is simple - Michelle Duggar is a Proverbs 31 wife who shows her husband respect and adoration and exercises patience with her children.

How often do we bless our families? Do we use our mouths to speak negatively toward our husbands? Do we use more time cursing our husband's name to friends and relatives than we do uplifting him? Do we fuss at our children when they spill or mess up their chest of drawers while teaching them independence? Or do we praise them for making the effort?

On Day 12 of the 30 Day Encouragement Challenge it says this:

"How sad that we give more grace to others than to those in our own homes. Today, try

to look at your husband through eyes of grace. Verbally thank your husband for what he

is already doing."

Hoo boy! That one right there really convicted my spirit. How often do I look for fault in my husband and yet gently encourage my mother or sister to not speak ill of strangers and mere acquaintances? How many times have I been swift to criticize my husband over trivial things and yet restrained myself when thinking about others in an attempt to be non-judgmental?

Every day we should be a blessing to our husband and our children. Pray for God's help in this area. Ask Him to help soften your heart and give you a patient spirit. I think we will find when we bless our families that God will enrich our lives in ways we'd never imagine.